Imagine being just 17 and already having your name written into the track and field history books. That’s Quincy Wilson for you. He’s a junior at Bullis School down in Maryland, but not a lot is known about him beyond his track achievements.
The young star has been quite protective of his close circle, and that includes his best friends from school: Colin Abrams, Chris Tangelo, and Javonte Williams. All track athletes, they remain his closest friends who motivate and encourage each other to give their best.
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“We try to live the moment the most we can,” Wilson said last month, “because we know that some of these opportunities we have may never come again.” But that’s not the end of his support system. There’s more; Even if they live hundreds of miles away. Vernon Norwood, who trains in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is one of them. When the 33-year-old Olympia puts on his headphones and switches on his television to play NBA 2K, there he finds Wilson, who talks smack about his team.
“It’s like big bro, little bro,” Norwood admitted. They met last June for the first time and immediately hit it off, and a couple of months later, they found each other in Paris, where the veteran track star acted as the younger one’s chaperone anytime he had to leave the village.
Their bond remains the same today. Wilson’s interaction with Norwood and his school friends provides a view into the relationship he shares with those close to him. And in the latest update, the teenage sensation shared a heartfelt Instagram story about another friend, who has been his pillar of strength.
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It was a simple birthday shoutout to a close friend, and he tagged this account called the “Henny and Fried Crabs Podcast.” In the post, he wrote, “Happy birthday to the 🐐! the one who pushed me past my limits .”
Absolutely essential for success
Important but not the only factor
Somewhat helpful but overrated
Not important at all, talent is key
With the support system Quincy Wilson has, how far do you think he will go in his track and field career?
He’ll break world records and become a legend
He’ll have a successful but not legendary career
He might struggle under pressure
It’s too early to tell
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
Do you think Stephen Nedoroscik’s absence from the Pan American Championships is a strategic move for Team USA?
Yes, it’s time to focus on younger talent
No, his experience is invaluable
Maybe, but it seems like a missed opportunity
I don’t care as long as Team USA wins
Do you believe the “personal reasons” cited by Botswana’s top athletes for their withdrawal?
Yes, I trust their decision
No, there’s more to the story
Maybe, but the timing is suspicious
I don’t care as long as the team performs
Do you think Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens should share more about their personal lives with the public?
Yes, it keeps fans engaged
No, they deserve privacy
Only if they feel comfortable
I don’t care about celebrity personal lives
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
Well, the podcast is run by Iman Aka on YouTube. His YouTube channel has 668 videos with 1.59k subscribers.
The description of the channel claims: “Henny and Fried CrabsProduction LLC Presents Henny And Fried Crabs Podcast a podcast about black culture surrounding relationships music entertainment kids heart break love friendship and stories you wouldn’t believe Host Iman aka MrG4 aka Mr Henny and Fried Crabs.”
While not a lot is known about their friendship, Wilson, in the past, has shared some glimpses. Turns out, Iman has been in Quincy’s corner for ages, going all the way back to when Quincy Wilson was just starting out.
The latter even shared an older photo on his Instagram story back in March 2025—a throwback pic of a younger him lifting weights with Iman right there spotting him, keeping a close eye. He captioned that one, “Hennyandfriedcrabspodcast❤️💪🏼The reason I am the athlete I am today 💯,” which echoed the feeling in his birthday post.
Iman’s reaction to that post from March was just as powerful: “From the first week I ever seen him work, I knew what Quincy was capable of… never met an athlete who wanted it more. And he had great parents and siblings that also made the sacrifices for his success. And pushed him to be great. Always believe in yourself and put the work innnnnn.”
It shows you that the connection goes both ways. For someone who’s already being called a future 400m world record holder, Quincy Wilson clearly understands how valuable it is to have people who push you way beyond what you ever thought you could do.
With the 2025 New Balance Nationals Indoor championships coming up soon (March 13-16), you have to wonder how much this strong friendship and mentorship fuels Quincy Wilson’s fire as he keeps chasing those incredible times and records.
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The role of support in Quincy Wilson’s Success!
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What’s really clear about Wilson is that he’s not just some isolated track prodigy. He’s a living example of how powerful it is to have a strong crew, a tight-knit circle of people in your corner. Those unbelievable times he’s been running the national high school indoor record this year—they didn’t just happen in a vacuum.
You’ve got Coach Joe Lee over at the Bullis Academy, who apparently helped mold his raw talent early on. And then there’s his family—his mom, Monique; dad, Roy; and his sibling, Kadence Wilson, who made a huge sacrifice, literally picking up their lives and moving to Maryland just so that he could be part of the top-tier program at Bullis School.
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And remember that heartfelt shoutout we talked about? The one to his mentor, Iman from the “Henny and Fried Crabs Podcast,” crediting him for pushing him “past my limits”? But who else is part of the squad fueling this young star? Well, Iman’s influence seems to extend outwards.
Wilson’s girlfriend, Solai Russell, is also a seriously good track athlete herself. And let’s not forget his mom, Monique, whose encouragement has been key in keeping him grounded even as he’s suddenly famous after the Olympics. With a crew like that behind him, pushing him, believing in him, and keeping him grounded, you just have to wonder: How high is Quincy Wilson really going to soar?
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Tajamul Islam 163 Articles One Take at a Time
Tajamul Islam is an Olympic Sports Writer for EssentiallySports, with a sharp eye on the shooting arena. Fueled by his passion for the grandeur and intensity of the Olympic Games, he dives deep into the precision and strategy of the sport, bringing insightful coverage to fans worldwide.
With three years of experience in sports journalism, Tajamul’s expertise goes beyond reporting—he’s also a PhD scholar in Mass Communication and Journalism.
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