Nikki Hiltz Explained

Nikki Hiltz
Nationality:American
Birth Date:23 October 1994
Birth Place:Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Height:1.63abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Sport:Track, middle-distance running
Event:1500 meters, mile
Collegeteam:Arkansas Razorbacks (2015-18)
Oregon Ducks (2014-15)
Club:Adidas (2018–21)
Lululemon (2021–present)
Turnedpro:2018
Coach:Terrence Mahon (2018–20)
Mac Fleet (2020–21)
Mike Smith (2022–present)
Show-Medals:yes

Nikki Hiltz (; born October 23, 1994)[1] is an American middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 meters and mile. Hiltz holds the American record in the mile and is the 2023 US 1500 m champion. They won a silver medal at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

Hiltz competed collegiately for the Oregon Ducks and Arkansas Razorbacks.[2]

Assigned female at birth,[3] they came out as transgender and nonbinary on International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2021.[4] They have been competing in the Women's category.[3]

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hiltz finished seventh in the Women's 1500 meter finals.[5]

High school

While attending Aptos Middle School, Hiltz ran a 400 m in 1:07.41 (2009), an 800 m in 2:51.54 (2008), a high jump of 1.37 m (2009), and long jump of 3.94 m (2008). At Aptos High School, Hiltz won 6 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Central Coast Section titles.

High school personal bests

EventTimeDateLocationYear
Outdoor26.51 4 May 2013 12th grade
57.11 27 April 2013 12th grade
2:09.50 18–24 May 2013 12th grade
4:26.13 23 June 2011 10th grade
4:42.45 2 June 2012 11th grade
4:51.52 30 March 2013 12th grade
10:48.23 13 April 2013 12th grade
47.86 7 May 2011 10th grade

Collegiate career

Hiltz is a 6 time NCAA Division I All-American. Hiltz began their college career at Oregon in 2014[6] before transferring to Arkansas in 2016.[7]

At the 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Hiltz finished in 8th place with a time of 4:38.47 in the mile for the Oregon Ducks.[8] Hiltz was a 2015 NCAA Division 1 & Pac-12 Conference Track and Field Team Champion as a member of the Oregon Ducks at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[9] [10]

After the 2015 season, Hiltz transferred to Arkansas. In 2016 Hiltz, along with Arkansas Razorbacks teammates Daina Harper, Therese Haiss and Jessica Kamilos, placed 5th in the DMR (Distance Medley Relay) with a time of 10:59.22 at the 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.[11] Hiltz placed 6th in the mile, finishing with a time of 4:34.57 at the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.[12]

In 2018, Hiltz earned First Team NCAA Division I All-America honors in the 1500m Outdoors at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Hiltz also placed 3rd in the mile at the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.

University personal bests

EventTimeDateLocationYear
Outdoor2:05.83 11–13 May 2017 JR-3 Arkansas
4:09.40 6–9 June 2018 SR-4 Arkansas
Indoor2:05.16 27 January 2018 SR-4 Arkansas
2:45.94 15 January 2016 SO-2 Arkansas
4:15.40 3 February 2018 New York City, New YorkSR-4 Arkansas
4:32.59 9–10 March 2018 SR-4 Arkansas
9:04.64 9–10 February 2018 SR-4 Arkansas
XC16:41.9 1 October 2016 JR-3 Arkansas
16:55.1 29 September 2017 SR-4 Arkansas
19:35.5 10 November 2017 SR-4 Arkansas

Professional

2018

In 2018, Hiltz signed with Adidas and trained with The Mission Athletics Club, now known as The Golden Coast Track Club based in California after running a 1500 m time ranked in the top 100 in the world.[13] In January of the same year they ran a then-personal best 2:05.16 in the 800 m. Later in the year Hiltz ran the Aetna Falmouth Mile placing 4th in 4:32.29. They followed up with a 5th-place finish at the Memphis Ed Murphey Mile with a time of 4:32.59. They also ran the Bay Shore Hoka One Long Island Mile placing 12th in 4:39.23. Hiltz ranked 92nd in the world in the 1500 m with a personal best of 4:09.14.

2019

Hiltz ran an indoor 3000 m (9:04.32) at the JDL Fast Track Invitational, won the indoor mile (4:31.42) at the Husky Classic, and at the 2019 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships placed 5th in the mile (4:32.40) and 15th in the 2 mile (9:55.50). Later that year, Hiltz won the 800 m (2:01.37) at the 2019 Bryan Clay Invitational, won the 1500 m (4:07.71) at the 2019 USATF Distance Classic, runner-up in the 1500 m (4:05.56) at 2019 Portland Track Festival, won the 800 m (2:02.93) at the 2019 Adrian Martinez Classic, won the 1500 m (4:05.97) at the 2019 Sunset Tour. They also placed 3rd in the 1500 m (4:03.55) at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Hiltz ranked 19th in the world in the 1500 m with a personal best of 4:01.52 in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Athletics Championships.[14]

2020

Hiltz ran the mile at the Millrose Games in 4:24.45, splitting a 1500 m time of 4:07.09 and placing 5th with an indoor personal best.

2021

In New York, Hiltz competed in the 1500 m at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. At the 2021 United States Olympic trials, Hiltz contested both the 800 m and 1500 m. They failed to qualify for the final in either event placing 13th in the 1500 m and 17th in the 800 m.[15]

2022

In the summer of 2022, no longer sponsored by Adidas, Hiltz announced that they had signed with LuluLemon.[16] On September 11, Hiltz finished second in the 2022 the Fifth Avenue Mile in 4:17.4 behind winner Laura Muir.[17]

2023

Nikki Hiltz won their first outdoor USATF Outdoor National Championship title in the 1500 in 4:03.10, moving from 3rd to 1st in the last 300m.[18] On July 21, 2023, Hiltz finished 6th in the mile at the Monaco Diamond League in a time of 4:16.35, a personal best, North American Area Record[19] and an American Record.[20] [21]

2024

In the first race of the 2024 season, Hiltz won the 1,000-meter run at the Mile City Mayhem Event at the UW Invitational in 2:34.09, setting a personal best and American Indoor Record.[22] [23]

In an effort to test endurance, Hiltz decided to contest the 2 mile at the 2024 Millrose Games rather than their specialty event, the mile. Competing on February 11, they placed 4th in a time of 9:15.80 which improved upon their personal best set in 2019 by almost 40 seconds. The following week, Nikki contested the 1500 m at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, successfully defending their US indoor title in a time of 4:08.35. Placing top two, alongside Emily Mackay, qualified Hiltz to compete at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

In the qualifying round, on March 1, Hiltz posted the fastest time of the heats, running an indoor personal best of 4:04.34. In the final, Hiltz took second place behind Freweyni Hailu in a personal best of 4:02.32, earning a first global medal and becoming the first American to medal in the event since Regina Jacobs in 2003. Hiltz was joined on the podium by fellow American Emily Mackay who took bronze.

In the 2024 US Olympic Trials, Hiltz competed in the 1500m run and made it through the preliminaries and semifinals. In the final, Hiltz won in a time of 3:55.33, thereby making the Olympic Team, and also setting a new trials record.[24]

Personal bests

EventTimeDateLocation
Outdoor1:59.03 14 April 2023 Azusa, California
3:55.33 30 June 2024 Eugene, Oregon
4:16.35 21 July 2023 Monaco
16:35 22 November 2018 San Jose, California
Indoor2:02.51 7 February 2021 Fayetteville, Arkansas
2:34.09 27 January 2024 Seattle, Washington
4:02.32 3 March 2024 Glasgow, Scotland
4:24.45 8 February 2020 New York City
8:39.92 11 February 2024 New York City
9:15.80 11 February 2024 New York City

Personal life

In 2020, Hiltz founded Pride 5k, an annual charity race that has raised over $172,000 for The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth.[25] [26] [27] Thousands of people have supported the race.[28] [29]

Since 2020, Hiltz has been in a relationship with Emma Gee, the first openly LGBT student-athlete to compete for Brigham Young University. Gee later competed for Temple University where she qualified for the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[30]

Competition record

International Competitions

Representing the
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime
2019 1st 4:07.14
12th 4:06.68
2023World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary17th1500 m4:00.84
2024World Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, Scotlandbgcolor=silver2nd1500 m4:02.32
Olympic GamesParis, France7th1500 m3:56.38

National Championships

Representing Aptos High School (2011–12), Arkansas Razorbacks (2017–18), Adidas (2019–21), and Lululemon (2022-present)
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime
2011USA Junior Track and Field ChampionshipsUniversity of Oregon4th1500 m4:26.13
2012USA Junior Track and Field ChampionshipsBloomington, Indiana6th4:29.52
2017USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsSacramento State University6th4:10.28
2018USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake University9th4:15.03
2019USA 1 Mile Road ChampionshipsDes Moines, Iowabgcolor=gold 1stMile4:29.7
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake University3rd1500 m4:03.55
2021United States Olympic TrialsUniversity of Oregon13th4:10.60
17th800 m2:01.42
2022USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsSpokane, Washington10th1500 m4:10.7
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsUniversity of Oregon6th1500 m4:10.97
2023 USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, New Mexico1st 4:17.10
USA 1 Mile Road ChampionshipsDes Moines, IowaMile4:28.0
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsUniversity of Oregon1500 m4:03.10
2024USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, New Mexico4:08.35
United States Olympic TrialsEugene, Oregon3:55.33

NCAA Championships

Representing the Oregon Ducks (2014–15) and Arkansas Razorbacks (2015–2018)!Year!Competition!Venue!Position!Event!Time
2015NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsRandal Tyson Track Center11thMile4:38.47
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsHayward Field11th1500 m4:31.26
2016NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsBirmingham, Alabama5thDMR10:59.22
NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsTerre Haute, Indiana151st6 km21:04.8
2017NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCollege Station, Texas6thMile4:34.57
NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsHayward Fieldbgcolor=silver 2nd1500 m4:13.80
NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsLouisville, Kentucky87th6 km20:37.2
2018NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCollege Station, Texas3rdMile4:32.59
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsHayward Fieldbgcolor=silver 2nd1500 m4:09.14

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HILTZ Nikki. 2024 . Olympics.com . 9 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Episode 28: Nikki Hiltz, All-American NCAA Collegiate Runner . Strong Runner Chicks Podcast . April 16, 2018 . September 24, 2018.
  3. Web site: Fact Check: False posts take a stab at transgender, non-binary athlete Nikki Hiltz . Reuters Fact Check . July 9, 2024 . August 4, 2024.
  4. Web site: Mosley . Tonya . Hagan . Allison . June 17, 2021 . Nikki Hiltz Hopes To Become One Of The First Openly Transgender Athletes At The Olympics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210619182449/https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/06/17/transgender-athletes-olympics . June 19, 2021 . June 27, 2021 . WBUR-FM.
  5. News: Fried . Ina . Nonbinary runner Nikki Hiltz finishes seventh in 1500 meter finals . 11 August 2024 . Axios . 10 August 2024.
  6. Web site: Goe . Ken . June 8, 2016 . Nikki Hiltz and Ashlee Moore open up about leaving . March 12, 2024 . oregonlive . en.
  7. Web site: August 13, 2015 . Nikki Hiltz . March 12, 2024 . Arkansas Razorbacks . en-US.
  8. Web site: TFRRS Nikki Hiltz – Track and Field Results & Statistics . 2024-03-12 . www.tfrrs.org.
  9. Web site: 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships June 10-13, 2015 - Hayward Field - Eugene, OR . Track and Field Results Reporting System . September 24, 2018.
  10. Web site: 2015 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships May 15-16, 2015 - UCLA - Los Angeles, CA . Track and Field Results Reporting System . September 24, 2018.
  11. Web site: 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships . Track and Field Results Reporting System . September 25, 2018.
  12. Web site: TFRRS Nikki Hiltz – Track and Field Results & Statistics . 2024-03-12 . www.tfrrs.org.
  13. Web site: 2018 IAAF World List Women 1500 meters . . September 24, 2018.
  14. Web site: 2019 IAAF World List Women 1500 meters . . July 27, 2019.
  15. https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field-results/full-view.html 2021 USA Olympic Trials results
  16. Web site: Nikki Hiltz Officially Signs on with Lululemon . June 23, 2022 .
  17. Web site: New York Road Runners Official Race Results . March 4, 2024 . results.nyrr.org.
  18. Web site: Results .
  19. Web site: Mile Run Results . sportresult.com . 21 July 2023 . 21 July 2023 . July 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721190522/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/MONACO2023/PDF_ATHW1MILE---DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73C1.PDF?h=4TUWNaAhaz6E9nRWFHTt/sCKsp4=/ . dead .
  20. https://monaco.diamondleague.com/live/libs/jetuniversalcomponents/modules/pdfViewer/viewer.html?file=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/MONACO2023/PDF_ATHW1MILE---DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73C1.PDF?h=TXFowzcUCA9M+rcDvLFyGOuvs9A=
  21. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-107-nikki-hiltz-a-champion/id1538233660?i=1000634548547 Ep. 107 - Nikki Hiltz - “A Champion” - The RUN EAT SLEEP Show
  22. Web site: January 28, 2024 . Aptos native Nikki Hiltz sets U.S. Indoor record in women's 1,000 in Seattle Track and Field . 2024-02-08 . Santa Cruz Sentinel . en-US.
  23. Web site: Track Scoreboard . February 8, 2024 . live.pntfo.com.
  24. Web site: Results . July 1, 2024 . results.usatf.org.
  25. https://www.outsports.com/2020/5/8/21250010/olympic-hopeful-nikki-hiltz-hosting-virtual-5k-to-raise-money-for-the-trevor-project Team USA runner Nikki Hiltz hosting virtual 5k to raise money for The Trevor Project
  26. News: Bumbaca . Chris . Nikki Hiltz, US track Olympian, embraces 'superpower' of being queer and running 'free' . 11 August 2024 . USA Today . 9 August 2024.
  27. Web site: About Us . Pride 5k . 11 August 2024.
  28. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/voice-in-sport/episode-41-nikki-hiltz-be-Rf_1jMsSByr/ Episode 41. Nikki Hiltz - Be True to Your Voice & Lift up Others.
  29. https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a32729939/nikki-hiltz-gctc-virtual-pride-5k-the-trevor-project/ Nikki Hiltz and the Golden Coast Track Club Hosting a Virtual 5K for Pride Month
  30. Web site: Ennis . Dawn . Sports Is Where Trans Nonbinary Runner Nikki Hiltz Found Themself . March 4, 2024 . Forbes . en.