SEATTLE — Rainier Beach and Washington State alum Ray Wells Jr. ran the 60-meter dash in 6.48 seconds on Feb. 3. It was the fastest time in the world this year and the 33rd fastest time in track and field history.
Now he turns his attention to the 100-meter dash as he chases after his Olympic dreams.
In 2020, Wells Jr. went viral for clearing 61 inches. A video clip of Wells Jr. clearing the hurdles was viewed by millions, but a year later he had to deal with another hurdle.
"In 2021 I was on top of the world," Wells Jr. said. "I was on ESPN about 40 times, I was on American Ninja Warrior, I mean, I was on top of the world and then in a blink of an eye, the world was on top of me."
Wells Jr. was hoping to make a run at the Toyko Olympics, but he tore his Achilles at a college meet.
"That's an injury that most people don't bounce back from," Wells Jr. said. "It was a real setback there. I didn't know where I was going. But before I could even realize it, I tweeted immediately. And I have that tweet, still. On Twitter. I said, day one of my recovery starts now, that's all part of God's plan."
The son of a pastor, Wells Jr. said he's never lacked in faith. In fact, he lives his life by three letters, GLF: God, loyalty and family. And he would lean on those letters as he battled back from injury.
Wells Jr. started training with three-time NFL pro bowler and national track champion Eric Metcalf.
"I trust him, 100 percent, he's a legend in his own areas of life," Wells Jr. said. "But he's such a good coach that I know he'll have a plan ready for me."
At Rainier Beach, Wells Jr. won state championships in the 100 and 200-meter races.
At Washington State, he's the school's 60-meter dash record holder. He's never been the biggest or strongest athlete, but Wells Jr. has never let his size slow him down.
"My dad would constantly tell me that he wouldn't let my size affect me and he would always be like, you need to just believe in yourself, the moment you believe in yourself, it will happen," Wells Jr. said. "It's been like that all my life. I'd win the state title, my dad would be like congratulations, now go get more, I'd be, okay then I win the PAC 12 title, and he's like congratulations. Now go get more, he would never let me get complacent."
So now Wells Jr. is trying to get more. The Olympics were once a childhood dream, but now it's a reality for one of the fastest sprinters in the country.
"I get more caught up in the work because I know that work will lead me there," Wells Jr. said. "So instead of just thinking of like, oh, I want to be in the Olympics. I'm like, what will get me to the Olympics.? So by the time I get there and I put my head up, I'm like, oh, that's what got me here."
Only the top three finishers from the Olympic trials will compete in Paris in the 100-meter dash. Besides training for the Olympic trials, Wells Jr. is currently a track coach at The Bush School in Seattle.