Wiley originally competed at the 100 and 200 m events but later moved up to compete more successfully at the 400 m.A two-time USA National Champion at 400 m, in 1981 and 1982,[2] Wiley set his personal best (44.70) in the 400 metres on 21 June 1981 inSacramento.[3] Wiley competed for his college, theUniversity of Kansas, in the short sprints but did run 400 m relay legs, and it was his success at the latter that led his track coach, Bob Timmons, to believe this would be his best event.[4]
In 1979, Wiley was a member of the winning 4 × 100 m United States relay team at the1979 Pan American Games[7]
In 1981, Wiley at 400 m because USA Champion, winner of theWorld Student Games and theIAAF World Cup. He was also number one ranked in the world at the event.
In 1983, Wiley became United States champion indoors at 440 y.[8] and won thePan American Games title at 400 m.
Wiley never ran in the Olympics. Having qualified as second in the 200 m at theUS Olympic Trials in 1980, he was denied participation at the1980 Moscow Olympics because of the USA boycott. In 1984, a contender in the 400 m, his chances at the Olympic Trials were ruined by injury, he could only reach the quarter-final stage. He had also run in the 1976 Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 m reaching the quarter-final stage at both events.[9]
After graduation, he went to theUniversity of Kansas, attending the law school there. A successful athlete during his time there - he won All-America honors 13 times and was part of the team that won the NCAA indoor title in the 1,600 relay in 1977.[10] This success was later recognised by him being inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame.[11] Wiley was always more than just an athlete, during his time at university, for instance, he served as leader of the Black American Law Students Association.[12] During his time at the University of Kansas, Wiley was involved in a case against the NCAA over his personal funding. He was awarded an injunction that allowed him to continue to compete. The case was eventually dismissed (after Wiley had graduated) but it did lead to a voluntary rule change by the NCAA.[10]
Wiley organised an annual running event, the Cliff Wiley Track Classic, in Baltimore to give something back to his home area.[14][15] This has been superseded by the International Youth track and Field Championships that Wiley also helps organise.[10]
An experienced track coach and meet organiser in his local area, in 2004 he was appointed head manager of Team USA at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Italy.[16]
Wiley is very interested in the organization of track and field and has spoken up for a clean, ethical sport. As he has stated 'When you're on drugs or counting on drugs, what kind of example are you setting?'[17] Another example is when he spoke out against the athletes who withdrew from the 1983 Pan-American Games[18] when the nature of the new drug-testing regime became clear.[19]
In 2021, Wiley was involved in the launch of the Topeka Super Indoor Invitational atWashburn University.[20]
Wiley has spoken that as a child his dreams were to "Run in the Olympics, and be the mayor of Baltimore City."[12] He may yet achieve his second dream but the first was denied by the USA boycott in 1980 and has left a painful memory. As a member of the 1980 team he was invited to theWhite House to meet PresidentJimmy Carter. Wiley has said of meeting the President, "I respected the situation, but I guess I wanted to tell him that he was fighting with the wrong instrument. I heard all of this talk about sacrifice. I thought making a sacrifice was a voluntary thing."[12]
Wiley was ranked among the best in the US and the world in both the 200 and 400 m sprint events from 1977 to 1983, according to the votes of the experts ofTrack and Field News.[21][22][23][24]
* Distances have varied as follows: 300 yards (1906-1932), 440 yards (1981–1986), 400 meters (1987–present) alternating with 300 meters in odd numbered years 2015-2019
United States
