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Allie Wilson will represent Team USA in the women's 800 meters at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She ran the 800 in 1:58.32 at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Monday, June 24.
The Wallingford, Pennsylvania, native was ecstatic in her post-race interview on NBC.
"I knew I had a chance given the depth of the 800 talent in this country," said Wilson. "It was not going to be a small feat to make this team. I'm so honored."
The race was marked by controversy after Trenton native Athing Mu was clipped by another runner in the first lap and fell. She finished in last place, missing the chance to defend her 800 gold medal since the top three runners in the TrackTown USA trials advance to the Olympics.
Wilson wasn't involved in the collision and finished in second place. She'll be joined in the 800 at the Paris Games by University of Pennsylvania graduate Nia Akins and Laurel, Maryland, native Juliette Whittaker.
Wilson will be the third former Monmouth athlete to compete at the Olympics. Women's soccer legend Christie Pearce won three gold medals for the U.S. and swimmer Wendy Boglioli brought home gold with Team USA as a member of a then-world record 4x100-meter freestyle relay team at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
At Monmouth, Wilson was a first-team all-American in indoor and outdoor track in the 800 during the 2018-19 season. She won eight outdoor and six indoor titles as an individual or relay team member in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships during her Hawks career.
Prior to college, Wilson was a cross country and track star at Strath Haven High School. The 28-year-old has competed as a professional for Atlanta Track Club and won the 800 at the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Wilson is also the second Team USA athlete with ties to West Long Branch heading to the Paris Olympics. Judo fighter Jack Yonezuka will compete in the 73-kilogram weight class.
The first round of the Olympics women's 800 will be at 1:45 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 2, with the gold medal race scheduled for 3:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 5.
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