.jpg) Hiltz in 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | (1994-10-23)October 23, 1994 (age 31) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| Agent | Merhawi Keflezighi |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Track,middle-distance running |
Event(s) | 1500 meters,mile |
| College team | Arkansas Razorbacks (2015–18) Oregon Ducks (2014–15) |
| Club | Adidas (2018–21) Lululemon (2021–present) |
| Turned pro | 2018 |
| Coached by | Terrence Mahon (2018–20) Mac Fleet (2020–21) Mike Smith (2022–2025) Juli Benson (2025–present) |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbests |
|
Medal record | |
Nikki Hiltz (/ˈhɪlts/ ⓘHILTS; born October 23, 1994)[1] is an Americanmiddle-distance runner specializing in the1500 meters andmile. Hiltz holds theAmerican record in the mile and as of 2025, has won eight consecutive US titles across the mile and 1500m.[2] Hiltz won a silver medal at the2024 World Indoor Championships.
Hiltz competed collegiately for theOregon Ducks andArkansas Razorbacks.[3]
Assigned female at birth,[4] they came out astransgender andnonbinary onInternational Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2021.[5] Hiltz has been competing in the Women's category since childhood.[4]
At the2024 Paris Olympics, Hiltz finished seventh in thewomen's 1500 meter final.[6]
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). AtAptos High School, Hiltz won 6California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)Central Coast Section titles.
In cross country, Hiltz finished fifth at the 2010 California state championships as a sophomore. Later that year, they qualified forFoot Locker Cross Country Nationals where they placed 17th.[7]
On the track, Hiltz won a California state championship and three additional top-three finishes. As a sophomore, Hiltz finished third in the 1,600 meter race. During their junior year, in 2012, they won the California 1600 meter state title, running a high-school best 4:42.45. This was the third best time among USjunior athletes in 2012. As a senior, Hiltz came back from injury to finish third in the 800 m and second in the 1500 meter race. Hiltz ran a high school best 800 meter race time of 2:09.50 at the 2013 California sectional meet.[7]
During high school, Hiltz competed in the 1500 meter race at theUSA Junior Track and Field Championships. In Eugene, Oregon in 2011, Hiltz finished in fourth place in a time of 4:26.13. In Bloomington, Indiana in 2012, they finished in sixth place in a time of 4:29.52.[8]
| Event | Time | Date | Location | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | 200 m | 26.51 | 4 May 2013 | Soquel,California | 12th grade |
| 400 m | 57.11 | 27 April 2013 | Aptos,California | 12th grade | |
| 800 m | 2:09.50 | 18–24 May 2013 | Salinas, California | 12th grade | |
| 1500 m | 4:26.13 | 23 June 2011 | Eugene, Oregon | 10th grade | |
| 1600 m | 4:42.45 | 2 June 2012 | Clovis, California | 11th grade | |
| Mile | 4:51.52 | 30 March 2013 | Palo Alto, California | 12th grade | |
| 3200 m | 10:48.23 | 13 April 2013 | Santa Cruz, California | 12th grade | |
| 300 m hurdles | 47.86 | 7 May 2011 | Santa Cruz, California | 10th grade |
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Hiltz is a 6 timeNCAA Division IAll-American. Hiltz began a college career atOregon in 2014[9] before transferring toArkansas in 2016.[10]
At the2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Hiltz finished in 8th place with a time of 4:38.47 in the mile for theOregon Ducks.[11] Hiltz was a 2015NCAA Division I &Pac-12 Conference Track and Field Team Champion as a member of theOregon Ducks at the2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[12][13]
After the 2015 season, Hiltz transferred toArkansas. In 2016 Hiltz, along withArkansas Razorbacks teammates Daina Harper, Therese Haiss and Jessica Kamilos, placed 5th in theDMR (Distance Medley Relay) with a time of 10:59.22 at the2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.[14] Hiltz placed 6th in the mile, finishing with a time of 4:34.57 at the2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.[15] They finished 2nd in the 1500m2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 4:13.80.[16]
In 2018, Hiltz earned First TeamNCAA Division IAll-America honors in the 1500m Outdoors at the2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships for theArkansas Razorbacks. Hiltz also placed 3rd in the mile at the2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.
| Event | Time | Date | Location | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | 800 m | 2:05.83 | 11–13 May 2017 | Columbia, South Carolina | JR-3 Arkansas |
| 1500 m | 4:09.40 | 6–9 June 2018 | Eugene, Oregon | SR-4 Arkansas | |
| Indoor | 800 m | 2:05.16 | 27 January 2018 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | SR-4 Arkansas |
| 1000 m | 2:45.94 | 15 January 2016 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | SO-2 Arkansas | |
| 1500 m | 4:15.40 | 3 February 2018 | New York City, New York | SR-4 Arkansas | |
| Mile | 4:32.59 | 9–10 March 2018 | College Station, Texas | SR-4 Arkansas | |
| 3000 m | 9:04.64 | 9–10 February 2018 | Seattle, Washington | SR-4 Arkansas | |
| XC | 3.1 miles | 16:41.9 | 1 October 2016 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | JR-3 Arkansas |
| 5 km | 16:55.1 | 29 September 2017 | Notre Dame, Indiana | SR-4 Arkansas | |
| 6km | 19:35.5 | 10 November 2017 | College Station, Texas | SR-4 Arkansas |
In 2018, Hiltz signed withAdidas and trained with The Mission Athletics Club, now known asThe Golden Coast Track Club based in California after running a 1500 m time ranked in the top 100 in the world.[17] 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 theAetna Falmouth Mile placing 4th in 4:32.29. They followed up with a 5th-place finish at theMemphis Ed Murphey Mile with a time of 4:32.59. They also ran theBay ShoreHoka 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.
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 the2019 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 the2019 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 the2019 World Athletics Championships.[18]
Hiltz ran the mile at theMillrose Games in 4:24.45, splitting a 1500 m time of 4:07.09 and placing 5th with an indoor personal best.
InNew York, Hiltz competed in the 1500 m atNew Balance Indoor Grand Prix. At the2021 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.[19]
In the summer of 2022, no longer sponsored by Adidas, Hiltz announced that they had signed withLululemon.[20] On September 11, Hiltz finished second in the 2022 theFifth Avenue Mile in 4:17.4 behind winnerLaura Muir.[21] At the USA Indoor National Championships in Spokane, Washington, Hiltz finished 10th in the 1500 meters. At the USA Outdoor National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Hiltz finished 6th in the 1500 meters.
Hiltz won first place in the mile at the Falmouth Track Festival inFalmouth, Massachusetts, the Sir Walter Miler inRaleigh, and the Fleet Feet Liberty Mile inPittsburgh. Hiltz also won the 1500 meters race at the Sound Running Sunset Tour #3 inLos Angeles.[22]
Nikki Hiltz won their first outdoorUSATF Outdoor National Championship title in the 1500 in 4:03.10, moving from 3rd to 1st in the last 300m.[23] On July 21, 2023, Hiltz finished 6th in the mile at the MonacoDiamond League in a time of 4:16.35, a personal best,North American Area Record[24] and anAmerican Record.[25][26]
Hiltz also won the mile or 1500 meters races at the Start to the Park 10k and Kalakaua Merrie Mile inHonolulu, Fast 5000 inMontesson, France, Trond Mohn Games inBergen, Norway, and the Drake Relays inDes Moines, Iowa.[22]
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 andAmerican Indoor Record.[27][28]
In an effort to test endurance, Hiltz decided to contest the2 mile at the2024 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 inAlbuquerque, successfully defending their US indoor title in a time of 4:08.35. Placing top two, alongsideEmily Mackay, qualified Hiltz to compete at the2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships inGlasgow.
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 behindFreweyni Hailu in a personal best of 4:02.32, earning a first global medal and becoming the first American to medal in the event sinceRegina Jacobs in 2003. Hiltz was joined on the podium by fellow AmericanEmily Mackay who took bronze.
In the2024 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.[29]
At the2024 Paris Olympics, Hiltz finished third in both their preliminary heat and semifinal heat, qualifying for the final. In theWomen's 1500 meter final, Hiltz finished seventh with a time of 3:56.38.[6]
In October 2024, it was announced that Hiltz had signed up for the inaugural season of theMichael Johnson foundedGrand Slam Track.[30]
On February 23, 2025, Hiltz became the first person to win five consecutive U.S. 1500m titles (both indoor and outdoor) as they finished first in the 1500m with a time of 4:05.76 in the2025 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.[31] They won the 3000m in 8:48.28 on the previous day, making them the first person to sweep the 1500m and 3000m in the competition sinceShelby Houlihan in 2020.[32]
In early 2025, Hiltz parted ways with coach Mike Smith and began being coached by Juli Benson.[33] At the first Grand Slam Track inKingston, Jamaica, Hiltz won the 800 m race with a personal best of 1:58.23.
Hiltz finished fifth in the2025 Prefontaine Classic 1500m with a time of 3:55.96, their second best time in the distance to date, asFaith Kipyegon set a world record in the 1500m.[34]
Hiltz finished first in the 1500m in the2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 4:03.15, securing their place in the2025 World Athletics Championships and winning their eighth consecutive U.S. title.[2]
Hiltz won the 1500m at the2025 Memorial Van Damme on August 22, 2025, as part of the2025 Diamond League, finishing with a time of 3:55.94.[35]
After finishing third in the second semifinal, Hiltz qualified for the 1500m final of the 2025 World Athletics Championships.[36] Racing in thefinal, they finished fifth overall with a time of 3:57.08, the top American in the race.[37] Describing their experience of the race, Hiltz said “It got harder and harder every step, almost so it kind of just runs the legs out of you.”[38]
| Event | Time | Date | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | 800 m | 1:58.23 | 4 April 2025 | Kingston, Jamaica |
| 1500 m | 3:55.33 | 30 June 2024 | Eugene, Oregon | |
| Mile | 4:16.35 | 21 July 2023 | Monaco | |
| 5 km | 16:35 | 22 November 2018 | San Jose, California | |
| Indoor | 800 m | 2:02.51 | 7 February 2021 | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| 1000 m | 2:34.09 | 27 January 2024 | Seattle, Washington | |
| 1500 m | 4:02.32 | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Mile | 4:24.45 | 8 February 2020 | New York City | |
| 3000 m | 8:39.92 | 11 February 2024 | New York City | |
| 2 miles | 9:15.80 | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
In 2020, Hiltz founded Pride 5k, an annual charity race that has raised over $172,000 forThe Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth.[39][40][41] Thousands of people have supported the race.[42][43]
Since 2020, Hiltz has been in a relationship with Emma Gee, the first openlyLGBT student-athlete to compete forBrigham Young University. Gee later competed forTemple University where she qualified for the2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[44] The two live inFlagstaff, Arizona with their dog, Scout.[45]
Hiltz has credited part of their success in track and field to the support received through theLGBTQ+ community.[46]
Hiltz has one sister, Michaela.[7]
Hiltz hadtop surgery in September 2024.[47] Speaking in 2025 about their surgery, they said “I had this surgery planned last year after the Olympics, and ever since, it was kind of a long recovery, but just each month, I've just felt more and more like myself,” adding “I think whatever you're doing off the track always tends to translate on.”[48]
| Grand Slam Track results[49] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slam | Race group | Event | Pl. | Time | Prize money |
| 2025 Kingston Slam | Short distance | 800 m | 1st | 1:58.23 | US$50,000 |
| 1500 m | 3rd | 4:05.39 | |||
| 2025 Miami Slam | Short distance | 1500 m | 2nd | 4:07.08 | US$50,000 |
| 800 m | 2nd | 1:59.75 | |||
| 2025 Philadelphia Slam | Short distance | 1500 m | 3rd | 4:00.54 | US$20,000 |
| 800 m | 7th | 2:01.43 | |||
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Pan American Games | Lima, Peru | 1st | 1500 m | 4:07.14 |
| World Championships | Khalifa International Stadium | 12th | 1500 m | 4:06.68 | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 17th | 1500 m | 4:00.84 |
| 2024 | World Indoor Championships | Glasgow, Scotland | 2nd | 1500 m | 4:02.32 |
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 7th | 1500 m | 3:56.38 | |
| 2025 | World Championships | Tokyo,Japan | 5th | 1500 m | 3:57:08 |
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Fayetteville, Arkansas | 11th | Mile | 4:38.47 |
| NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 11th | 1500 m | 4:31.26 | |
| 2016 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Birmingham, Alabama | 5th | DMR | 10:59.22 |
| NCAA Cross Country Championships | Terre Haute, Indiana | 151st | 6 km | 21:04.8 | |
| 2017 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | College Station, Texas | 6th | Mile | 4:34.57 |
| NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 1500 m | 4:13.80 | |
| NCAA Cross Country Championships | Louisville, Kentucky | 87th | 6 km | 20:37.2 | |
| 2018 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | College Station, Texas | 3rd | Mile | 4:32.59 |
| NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 1500 m | 4:09.14 |
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