‘Can’t outrun a dog’: Raytown South’s Quincy Hall takes Olympic gold for USA in 400m

Olympic gold is coming back to Kansas City after a comeback finish in Wednesday’s 400-meter final.

Raytown South alum Quincy Hall had fallen behind heading into the final stretch. He was in fourth — a position that would have kept him off the podium — before a memorable finish you’ve probably seen all over social media.

Hall mustered enough speed for a comeback that secured the gold.

“I’ve got determination,” Hall told reporters after the race. “That’s what got me to that line. A lot of hurt, a lot of pain.”

With his comeback effort, Hall overcame the pre-race favorite, Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, by just .04 seconds for a time of 43.40. Hall’s time is now the fourth-fastest in the event in Olympic history, just behind Team USA’s Quincy Watts (43.50) from the 1992 Games.

“I was just thinking, ‘Get home, sir. Get home, sir,’” Hall said. “I don’t give up. I just grit, I grind. I’ve got determination.”

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga placed third in the event.

Wednesday’s finish was also another personal best for Hall, around a month after he established his previous one at the Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon (44.17 seconds).

“You can’t outrun a dog,” Hall said. “A dog is going to chase you forever.”

While setting his personal best and earning his first Olympic gold, Hall also claimed gold for Team USA in the event for the first time since LaShawn Merritt in the 2008 Games.

Hall spent his collegiate days at the College of the Sequoias and South Carolina taking on hurdles. He led the College of the Sequoias track and field team to a California Community College Athletic Association championship. He also claimed an NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400-meter hurdles in 2019 with South Carolina and set a school record in the 400 meters at 45.25.

Hall’s roots, however, were in the 400 meters, winning a 4A state championship with Raytown South in the event in 2016. Hall called the switch back to the 400 meters the “best decision of my life.” Now, it’s paid off.

The 26 year-old Hall is just the latest Team USA track athlete to bring home some hardware after a busy day for the United States, with Kenneth Rooks in the steeplechase and Katie Moon in the pole vault, both clinching silver.

Team USA leads the Olympics with 94 medals total, including a leading 27 gold. China is right behind with 25 gold (65 total).

“It’s over,” Hall told reporters post-race. “For the next four years, I can say I’m an Olympic champion.”