Wiley 3:59.17! Faster than Simpson’s 3:59.90!

Per usual, you’re thoughtful and are able to have a sense of nuance. I mostly agree with you - At the very least, you’re realistic. The cloud of suspicion will only grow the longer she’s there and progresses. A part of me, however, if I knew I was doing things the right way and improving, would greatly resent and resist changing these merely for public persona purposes. And, I would have good reason to. I’m for her regardless what she chooses, up until she fails a test or confesses or there is some other incontrovertible evidence.

I agree with you. I’m not accusing her of anything, but appearances matter especially in this sport. If Lauren Johnson loves her, she should tell her it’s time to leave the nest and move on. Let her go hang out with Mike Smith and train with Hiltz, or wherever, and run 3:55 next summer and make the Olympic final.

So why doesn’t she have a sponsor? If she’s truly being coached by Roark or Neideck and doing things the right way, companies would be dying to give her a fat contract.

Occam’s Razor. Don’t overthink this.

It sounds like you are giving her an excuse to (possibly) dope because of her age. She is an adult who will be 20 in a month. She's young, but it's not like she is a 16 year old kid. Look at Issam Asinga... It happens

Here’s a video of her practicing with the Huntington college team as a HSer. Guess who the coach was back then.

skip to 3:19

Yeah, we’re 98% in sync.

Some people are ready to leave home before others, and I don’t know where she’s at on that front. But, yeah, if Mike Smith called and a big contract is offered, then I think Lauren may need to see that this would be the best move, encourage her to do it, and still cheerlead without getting in the way.

Regardless, Wiley is having to grow up quickly. I wish she had better support outside the one she’s in.

Very good points here. This is a transition. I think a lot of people are underselling the impact life influences can have on you when you're young, but it's magnified when success is tied in and the momentum is pointing toward more in the future. But she is getting older and will naturally take on more responsibility for her choices. With the Olympic year coming up, shoe companies calling, and her clearly beyond NCAA competition, I'm sure there's a lot of pressure. We have no idea what's going thru her head right now. I just don't think her leaving HU is some obvious, no-brainer decision for her that some posters are making it out to be, but of course it seems that simple from our POV.

No, if she’s already doping, there’s no excuse. Teenagers know right from wrong. I’m being optimistic and assuming she’s not doping. I’m talking about the ability of kids and teens to easily control and choose the company they keep. Children certainly don’t have a lot of agency about who coaches them and who is in their orbit. Addy became associated with the Johnson’s as a baby. I’m giving her a pass that she apparently has not cut the “professional” cord with them up until now. However, she’s an adult now running world class times. She needs to see the BIG picture. It’s time to move on and if she doesn’t, it’s a very bad look. For some it’s already too late, but I don’t think so, but the clock is ticking.

Roark had said that offers have been extended. I don’t know how attractive they are. Confident people often forgo early offers to be able to get a bigger one a little later. In this sense, she’s done well to NOT sign anything yet as her best marks have just been recently. She’s giving sponsors a lot to think about, for sure.

But let the heathens go there. It's an oasis compared to where they are headed eventually.

"I just don't think her leaving HU is some obvious, no-brainer decision for her that some posters are making it out to be, but of course it seems that simple from our POV."

I'm sorry but you cannot be serious. She's a world class talent running for a mid-level NAIA school.

Doubt they’ll win the title this year. They’re ranked eighth. At tonight’s invite, they and everyone else was crushed by Taylor (ranked #1). They finished 3rd and would have finished 2nd with Wiley. They could podium, I suppose if their fifth runner improves.

Just chirping in to agree with both retroactive bands and WOM. Very well stated, too.

In our social media world, there’s a propensity to feel that one knows more about a situation than they actually do, and also to be quite judgy in a black&white kind of way.

Im not sure her training group in Huntington (the guys team) isn’t better than most pro female groups. Besides the running, I bet the guys are supportive of her doing well without being competitive or bltchy about it.

Yes, it's clear you're completely disregaurding the psychological aspect of all of this.

I think her Christian faith may be more important to her decision-making than most people realize. For Christians, the main thing is not worldly accolades, reputation, or wealth -- it's glorifying God (as her IG profile states). So compared to many athletes, she likely doesn't care as much about what people think of her, or of getting the biggest shoe contract at any cost. And Christians also believe in repentance and forgiveness, so whatever her coach's husband may have done, if he's repentant, Addy might find it easier to look past it than many would.

Do you think she would be running faster if she had turned pro earlier this year? Of course we don't know but it doesn't always work out for the better.

Webb went back to his high school coach after a few semesters at a top D1 program. The main thing that Wiley needs to do is be completely transparent about her coaching situation. Who all is coaching and advising her? If she has nothing to hide just be open about everything and let the chips fall where they may. People are always going to make judgements no matter what.

Lauren Johnson helped Wiley with her NCAA college recruiting visits, including decision to sign with the buffs. Wiley herself made decision to stay at home after the '22 u20 world meet.

Given that her decision has worked out for her, don't expect a change at least thru Paris Trialss.

It's great that she's now 3:59/1:57, but as many can attest to that still only makes her a contender, not a lock for the team. It's still tricky to bring your best effort on exactly the day you need it.

She has now knocked out already Olympic qualifying times in both events.