Nikki Hiltz
Birthday: 10/23/94 Mile PR: 4:16.35 - 2023 (former AR)
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:55.33 - 2024
High School: Aptos HS (CA) '13
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
College: Oregon / Arkansas '18
Current Residence: Flagstaff, AZ
Nikki Hiltz, at the 2025 Millrose Games, finished third in the Wanamaker Mile, running an indoor personal record of 4:23.50, and two weeks later, won the USA Indoor 3000m title in 8:48.28, and the next day, took the 1500m title in 4:05.76 for the double sweep. In August, Nikki won sixth straight USA 1500m title, indoors and outdoors, running 4:03.15 to qualify for Team USA at the World Championships in Tokyo. In August, Nikki won her first Diamond League race in Brussels, the 1500m in 3:55.94.
In 2024, the California native defended the USA 1500 indoor title in 4:08.35, earning a Team USA berth for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where Hiltz captured the 1500m silver medal in 4:02.32. In late June, at the Olympic Trials, Hiltz repeated as USA 1500m champion, winning a thrilling, historic race in 3:55.33 (#2 U.S. all-time), a meet record and 4-plus second PR and earning an Olympic berth to Paris, where Hiltz finished 7th in the 1500 (3:56.38). In December, won the 32-second handicap gender Kalakaua Merrie Mile, in a blanket finish, beating everybody to the finish line in 4:28.39.
In January 2023, Nikki recorded a 4:32.23 Mile indoors at Flagstaff, AZ, the fastest known women's Mile at altitude (6,900ft). In February, Hiltz won the USA Indoor 1500m crown (4:17.10 in Albuquerque, 4959ft), and in April, earned second USA road Mile crown at the Grand Blue Mile, clocking 4:28.0 (4:27.97) and setting event, USA Championship & world records.
In June 2023, Hiltz won the On Track Nights Mile in 4:22.07 in France, and at the Bislett Games Dream Mile, placed 4th in 4:18.38.
In July 2023, Hiltz won the USA 1500 title in 4:03.10 to earn a trip to the World Championships in Budapest, and on July 21, 2023, finished 6th in the Mile at the Monaco Diamond League meet, clocking 4:16.35 to break Mary Slaney's nearly 38-year-old U.S. record! The Flagstaff resident ended the noteworthy year by winning the Kalakaua Merrie Mile, running 4:28.07 in Honolulu.
In 2022, Nikki won the Fleet Feet Liberty Mile in 4:28, edging two-time race champion Emily Lipari. In August, the Californai native won the Sir Walter Miler, breaking the beam in 4:21.89, and setting North Carolina outdoor & absolute state records, and two weeks later, was victorious at the Falmouth Elite Mile in 4:28.93.
In September 2022, Hiltz set a personal road best in the Mile, clocking 4:17.4 as the runner-up at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, and in December, ended the season at the Kalakaua Merrie Mile, finishing second (4:28).
In 2021, Hiltz won the adidas Boost Boston Games road Mile in 4:31, and in late August, she won the Downtown Yakima Mile in 4:22, the fastest Mile recorded on Washington state soil, and two weeks later, finished runner-up in the 5th Avenue Mile (4:23).
Nikki opened the 2020 season by winning the indoor Mile at the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge, recording 4:29.39, first track sub-4:30 (81st U.S. woman), and in February, finished 5th in the Wanamaker Mile, a 4:24.45 personal record.
In 2019, Nikki won two road races in April: B.A.A. Invite Mile (4:40.1) and Grand Blue Mile (4:29.7, personal, event and USA Championship records); also earned her first national title at Grand Blue. In May at the USATF Distance Classic, Hiltz won the 1500 meters with a PR clocking of 4:07.71, and in June, took the adidas Boost Games Mile, running 4:31.6 in Boston.
At the 2019 USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Nikki placed third in the 1500, with a PR 4:03.55, to earn her first Team USA berth. In August, she won the 1500 gold medal in 4:07.14 at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.
Hiltz competed for the University of Oregon & University of Arkansas, where she was 7-time All-American. The Oregon Duck was a 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships team member, and as a Razorback, finished 1500m runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
In high school, Hiltz won the 2012 California 1600 meter state title with a 4:42.45 clocking.
FUN FACT: Given first name is Dominique.
Photo credit: Chuck LeClaire