In the world of elite track and field, it’s not every day that a football player upstages an Olympic gold medallist. But on Saturday at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville, Tywan Cox, a University of Illinois football commit and Miami high school standout, did just that—delivering a performance that sent shockwaves through the U.S. sprinting scene.
Anchoring the Miami Northwestern Senior High 4x400m relay, Cox clocked a blistering 45.14 split—blowing past Quincy Wilson, the American Olympic 4x400m champion and one of the fastest teenagers in the world.
The comeback leg not only gave Miami Northwestern the win but dethroned Bullis School’s world U20 lead in the event. The final time: 3:08.74 to Bullis’s 3:09.97.
“This wasn’t just a win,” one track coach told us. “It was a statement.”
Who Is Tywan Cox?
A rising star in multiple arenas, Cox is best known as a defensive back for Miami Northwestern, one of Florida’s high school football powerhouses. Committed to play at the University of Illinois, he’s already made a name for himself on the gridiron.
But his raw speed has always hinted at crossover potential. On Saturday, that potential erupted into the national spotlight.
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400m personal best before the weekend: 46.84
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Prelim 400m split (Friday): 48.49
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Final anchor leg (Saturday): 45.14
For reference, that’s faster than several collegiate 400m champions and would place him firmly in contention at NCAA finals—despite not being a full-time sprinter.
A Race for the Ages
The final of the high school boys 4x400m had already been billed as one of the weekend’s marquee events. On paper, Bullis School, anchored by 17-year-old phenom Quincy Wilson, was the heavy favorite. They’d dominated Friday’s prelims, posting a smooth 3:09.98 while Miami Northwestern labored to 3:11.94.
Wilson himself had already put on a show—running 45.27 in the open 400m (the fifth-fastest U20 time in the world this year) and competing in both 4x100m and 4x400m rounds.
But when the baton reached Cox on the anchor leg, something electric happened. Down several meters to Wilson, he turned on the jets with 200m to go—and didn’t let up.
“That was pure dog,” Cox told local reporters after the race. “I wasn’t gonna let him get that easy.”
Olympic Pedigree vs. Untapped Power
Wilson, who helped the U.S. win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the men’s 4x400m, is widely considered the best 400m high schooler in American history. His 44.66 personal best is the fastest ever recorded by a U.S. prep.
But on Saturday, he ran a relatively conservative 46.24—still elite, but no match for Cox’s 45.14 anchor fury.
Relay Split Comparison – Final
| Athlete | School | Anchor Split |
|---|---|---|
| Tywan Cox | Miami Northwestern | 45.14 |
| Quincy Wilson | Bullis School | 46.24 |
The result: Miami Northwestern 3:08.74 (U.S. #1 high school time), Bullis 3:09.97 (U.S. #2).
A Rivalry Brewing
This wasn’t Cox and Wilson’s first encounter of the weekend. On Friday, Wilson took the open 400m title in dominant fashion:
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Wilson: 45.27
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Cox: 46.29 (new personal best)
Bullis also edged out Miami Northwestern in the 4x100m heats, advancing to the final while the Florida squad fell short.
But when it counted—in the last lap of the weekend’s final event—Cox flipped the narrative.
“He flipped the script,” said one rival coach. “And maybe the recruiting buzz, too.”
What’s Next?
For Wilson, the focus remains on defending his national titles and continuing toward a pro or NCAA sprinting career—he’s being courted by top programs and shoe companies alike.
For Cox, the question now becomes: Can he juggle football and track at Illinois—or does Saturday’s performance demand a shift in priorities?
Few high schoolers can run a 45.1 in-season. Even fewer do it as a second sport. College coaches will be watching closely.
Final Word: When Worlds Collide
Tywan Cox’s anchor leg wasn’t just fast—it was a collision of football explosiveness and track finesse, the kind of hybrid athleticism rarely seen outside of Olympic finals.
And while Quincy Wilson will surely bounce back—he remains a generational talent—Saturday’s race reminded the world that track is still full of surprises.
