On Saturday, Addy Wiley achieved what, to some, seemed like a nearly impossible time to crack.
The recent Huntington North (IN) graduate and University of Colorado signee ran the fastest 1,600 meter or converted girls mile time in history, posting an absolutely brilliant performance of 4:26.16 for 1,600 meters at the Grand Valley State University Midwest Redemption Meet in Allendale.
It was a what-the-hell-just-happened type of moment.
In achieving that time, Wiley, technically would have surpassed the overall national record in the girls mile, which was held by Mary Cain when she ran 4:28.25 indoors at the Armory in 2013. Wiley's time converts to 4:27.73. According to Track and Field News editor Jeff Hollobaugh, converted performances do not qualify for national records.
Wiley won the race by 28 seconds.
On top of that, she also set a new outdoor 1,600 national record, flying past Alexa Efraimson's time of 4:33.29 from the Washington State Championships in 2014. Her effort would have also passed Katelyn Tuohy's outdoor national mile record of 4:33.87, which was set in 2018.
Wiley is coming off two state titles in the 800m (2:06.26) and the 1,600m (4:38.69) at the Indiana State Championships. Her personal record for 1,600m was just achieved on May 24 at her IHSAA Regional Championships.
But in a lot of ways, this also wasn't completely out of the blue, either.
Last year, Wiley left the outdoor season with a U.S. No. 1 mile time of 4:38.14, which she ran at the RunningLane Track Championships.
Much like 2021, picked a non national-championship race to go for the mark. Just four days from now, one of the strongest contingents of girls milers will compete at Brooks PR in Seattle.
GVSU MIDWEST REDEMPTION GIRLS MILE RESULTS - MILESPLIT LIVE RESULTS LINK
1 Addy WILEY, Unattached 4:26.16 SR 2 Jessica JAZWINSKI, Jazz Running 4:54.59 3 Sinead NOONAN, Chariots of Fire Track Club 5:14.60 4 Camryn BODINE, Unattached 5:22.84 5 Madeline RICHMAN, Unattached 5:29.75 SR 6 Hayley HEINRICH, Unattached 5:53.64 JR 7 Samantha JAZWINSKI, Jazz Running 6:26.31 8 Katelyn ASHWORTH, Unattached 6:48.26 6
Wiley's U.S. No. 1 Mile Performance To End 2021