BRUSSELS, Belgium (Sept. 9) — In a race that saw Britain’s Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir clinch victory, 19-year-old American Addy Wiley stole the spotlight by setting an all-time U.S. collegiate record in the women’s 1500m at the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meet in Brussels on Friday.
Addy Wiley Record-Breaking Feat
Addy Wiley, a Huntington University athlete, clocked an impressive time of 3:59.17, making her the fastest U.S. collegiate 1500m runner of all time. The teenage sensation took 0.73 seconds off the ex-record set by Jenny Simpson in 2009 en route to finishing 8th overall in Brussels.
Read more: Addy Wiley sets 1:57.65 800m personal best at Gala dei Castelli 2023
The performance from Wiley comes on the heels of an outstanding 1:57.64 800m accomplishment in Switzerland four days ago, which her coach believes set the stage for this record-breaking run.
“I couldn’t be happier for Addy for her performances while in Europe,” said Coach Austin Roark on the Huntington University official website.
“Her 800m performance in Switzerland set up her record-breaking run in Brussels. I know how hard she’s worked and dedicated herself this summer, and she is now the fastest U.S. collegiate 1500m runner of all time.”
Wiley defeated former U.S. champion Sinclaire Johnson, who ran a season-best 3:59.19 in ninth place.
Laura Muir Tops A Competitive Field
The women’s 1500m event at the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meet in Brussels was highly competitive, featuring five women who had trailed the medalists at the world championships in Budapest.
A total of nine women broke the four-minute barrier and included three personal bests, one national record, and a few season bests.
Laura Muir of Britain emerged as the winner, clocking a season’s best of 3:55.34. She was closely followed by Ciara Mageean, who set an Irish record with a time of 3:55.87.
Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir finished third in 3:56.93, ahead of Jessica Hull of Australia, who recorded 3:57.75. Katie Snowden of Great Britain rounded out the top five in fifth place with 3:58.03.
Wiley’s Ascent to Stardom
Addy Wiley’s record-breaking run adds another chapter to her rapidly ascending career. Her performance at the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League in Brussels has not only etched her name in the collegiate record books but also signaled her as a rising star in American middle-distance running.
She, along with Mary Slaney, are the only two women in U.S. history to run an 800m in sub-1:58 and covered the 1500m in sub-4:00.
However, Wiley’s doing is even more impressive, seeing that she accomplished her feat within a four-day span, and Slaney did so in two different years.
With a summer of hard work and dedication behind her, Addy Wiley’s record-breaking performances set the stage for what could be a dominant career in the years to come.
Memorial Van Damme Diamond League Results – Women’s 1500m
WOMEN’S 1500M – 1. Laura Muir (GBR), 3:55.34; 2. Ciara Mageean (IRL), 3:55.87; 3. Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN), 3:56.93; 4. Jessica Hull (AUS), 3:57.75; 5. Katie Snowden (GBR), 3:58.03; 6. Hirut Meshesha (ETH), 3:58.06; 7. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GBR), 3:58.09; 8. Addison Wiley (USA), 3:59.17; 9. Sinclaire Johnson (USA), 3:59.19; 10. Linden Hall (AUS), 4:00.41; 11. Saron Berhe (ETH), 4:00.46; 12. Marta Pérez (ESP), 4:00.53; 13. Esther Guerrero (ESP), 4:02.27; 14. Cory Ann McGee (USA), 4:02.32; 15. Elise Vanderelst (BEL), 4:10.65; DNF: Claudia Mihaela Bobocea (ROU), Purity Chepkirui (KEN), Noélie Yarigo (BEN).
For more information, visit Huntington University Athletics.
