Ajeé Wilson (/ˈɑːdʒeɪ/ AH-jay; born May 8, 1994) is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 meters.[1] She is the 2022 World indoor champion at the 800 meter distance, after earning silver medals in 2016 and 2018. Wilson won bronze medals at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships. She is the second-fastest American of all time in the event with a time of 1m 55.61s, and she holds North American indoor record.
Wilson won titles in the 800 m at both the 2011 World Youth Championships and 2012 World Junior Championships. Her winning time of 2:00.91 at the latter is the fourth-fastest time run by a high schooler behind Mary Cain, Kim Gallagher, and Natalie Dumas.[2][3]
Wilson attended Academy of Allied Health & Science in Neptune Township, New Jersey, until 2012.[4] She originally committed to attend Florida State University,[5] before deciding to turn professional. She graduated from Temple University in 2016,[6] but trains with her coach Derek Thompson and the Juventus Track Club of Philadelphia.[7]
In 2012, she committed to run for the Florida State Seminoles under Karen Harvey, but days before the fall semester, she decided to focus on a pro career and return to her coach Derek Thompson at Temple University. The decision paid off at the IAAF Moscow 2013 World Championships where she ran the quickest junior 800 m of 1:58.21 – a North American and USA junior record – to place fifth.[8]
Wilson won her Second U.S. Senior Indoor 800-meter title at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2:00.43.[9] Wilson won her first U.S. Senior Outdoor 800-meter title at the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California, in 1:58.70.[10] On July 18, Wilson ran a world leading mark of 1:57.67[11] to win the Diamond League Herculis Monaco.
Wilson won the Armory Invitational in 2:01.7 on January 31 in New York City.
At the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon Wilson placed 3rd in the 800 m in 2:00.05 despite losing a shoe in the last 200 meters. She qualified to represent the U.S. for the 800 m in the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China but did not compete due to injury.
Wilson won the New York Road Runners Armory Invitational in New York City 600 m in 1:24.28, the fourth-fastest time in history and the second-fastest by an American behind only Alysia Montaño‘s U.S. national record of 1:23.59 set on this same Armory oval in 2013.
At the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Wilson placed 1st in the 800 meters in 1:57.78, to represent the U.S. for the 800 m in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London.[12]
On July 21, 2017, Wilson ran 1:55.61 at the Diamond League event in Monaco to break the U.S. record by nearly 1 second. This time ranks Wilson at number 20 on the IAAF all-time list.[13]
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Wilson won silver medal in World Indoor Championships at 800 m.
Wilson was part of the Team USA squad setting a world indoor record in the 4 × 800 m relay on February 3 at the 2018 Millrose Games in 8:05.89 – a squad that featured Chrishuna Williams (2:05.10), Raevyn Rogers (2:00.45), Charlene Lipsey (2:01.98), Ajeé Wilson (1:58.37).[14][15]
Wilson won 800 m gold at 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2:01.60,[16] and USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1:58.18.
Wilson won 800 m gold at 2018 NACAC Championships in Toronto, Canada, in a championship record and stadium record 1:57.52.[17]
Wilson won in 1:58.60 at 2019 Millrose Games to set the U.S. Indoor Track and Field 800 m record & NACAC 800 m record.
On July 28, at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Wilson placed 1st in the 800 meters in 1:57.72, to represent the U.S. for the 800 m in the 2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar.[18]
Diamond League champion 800 metres: 2019[19]
| Event | Time | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor | 400 m | 59.55 | Toms River, USA | December 28, 2011 |
| 500 m | 1:09.63 | Staten Island, USA | January 14, 2017 | |
| 600 m | 1:23.84 | Albuquerque, USA | March 5, 2017 | |
| 800 m | 1:58.29 AR | New York, USA | February 8, 2020 | |
| 1000 m | 2:34.71 | New York, USA | February 24, 2019 | |
| Mile | 4:36.84 | Staten Island, New York, USA | January 13, 2018 | |
| 4 × 800 m | 8:05.89 WR | New York City, USA | February 3, 2018 | |
| Outdoor | 400 m | 53.63 | Chester, USA | April 19, 2014 |
| 600 m | 1:22.39 ABP | Berlin, Germany | August 27, 2017 | |
| 800 m | 1:55.61 | Fontvieille, Monaco | July 21, 2017 | |
| 1000 m | 2:44.05 | Brussels, Belgium | September 6, 2013 | |
| 1500 m | 4:05.18 | Swarthmore, USA | May 14, 2018 | |
| Mile | 4:33.57 | South Huntington, USA | August 31, 2016 | |
| 4 × 800 m | 8:01.58 | Nassau, Bahamas | May 25, 2014 | |
| DMR | 10:36.50 WR | Nassau, Bahamas | May 2, 2015 |
World Indoor Champions in women's 800 metres | |
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