Running in the semi-finals of the 800 at the World Youth Games in Lille, France, Ajee Wilson has bettered the record of an all-time New Jersey great, Joetta Clark. Clark set the 800 record in 1979 and no one has come within a second of it since that time. Jill Smith of Southern Regional came the closest clocking a 2:04.67 in 2009 winning the Meet of Champions that year. Wilson had the third best all-time behind Smith but her 2:03.17 betters Olympian Clark's record by 0.37 seconds.
Hopefully there is more to come from Ajee. Long-time coach and observer Paul Limmer noted that Wilson appeared to have had a lot left and was cruising down the homestretch. The 800 final is Sunday afternoon and while Wilson is the top qualifier, the field is very strong and includes 2:02.04 performer Amy Wessenbach of California as well as Jessica Judd of Great Britain who has run 2:02.70 this year.
UPDATE Sunday July 10: In this morning's final, Ajee Wilson lowered her brand new 800m state record to 2:02.64! Wilson won the 800m World Youth Games Championship today in Lille France with a time that lowers the record that she set on Friday in the semi final of that event (2:03.14) by a little more than a second.
