Hiltz holds off Hurta-Klecker in thrilling finish, with NAIA freshman standout Wiley finishing fourth after leading early against strong professional field
By David Woods for DyeStat
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A 19-year-old freshman from an NAIA university was not overmatched in her first senior nationals against pros. Then again, she is the fastest high school miler in U.S. history.
Addy Wiley, after leading through 1,100 meters, was overtaken by three pros in the 1,500-meter final Saturday at the USATF Indoor Championships. She finished fourth in 4:18.84, despite a 60.87 closing 400 and 30.02 last 200.
Experience paid dividends for Lululemon athlete Nikki Hiltz, who won her first national title at age 28. Hiltz’s time, 4:17.10, was slowest for the winner since 4:19.46 by Morgan Uceny in 2010, also at Albuquerque’s 5,300-foot elevation.
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It would be revealing to see how Wiley would fare in Albuquerque in three weeks at the NCAA Division 1 Championships, but that is not the path she chose last year.
Wiley enrolled at hometown Huntington University in Indiana, where a civil lawsuit has alleged emotional and sexual abuse in the program and doping administered by former coach Nick Johnson. Separately, there are allegations of recruiting violations.
Huntington fired Johnson in December 2020 after he was arrested on felony charges. The university promoted his wife, Lauren Johnson, to the position of distance coach. Lauren was placed on administrative leave last October and has also left the program.
Wiley said she chose Huntington because of Lauren Johnson. The new distance coach is Josh Neideck, who was in Albuquerque with Wiley.
“The only thing I want to comment in regards to that, I’m in a position with all my athletes where I have to learn them, and they have to learn me,” Neideck said. “Everybody goes at a different pace. Me building a relationship with Addy to where she can trust me that I’m coming here to help her thrive.”
She is thriving so far. Wiley has set NAIA indoor records at 600 meters (1:29.77), 800 (2:02.33 on oversized oval) and the mile (4:32.15). Her 1,500 is an unofficial NAIA indoor record, according to the limited marks available in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association database.
Wiley acknowledged…
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