Birthday: 10/23/94 Mile PR: 4:22 (road) - 2021
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 4:01.52 - 2019
High School: Aptos HS '13
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
College: University of Arkansas '18
Current Residence: San Diego, CA
Nikki Hiltz won the 2021 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).
Hiltz 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 on February 8, she 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); she 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, she 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. As an Oregon Duck, she 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: Her given first name is Dominique.
Photo credit: Kevin Morris
Nick Willis’ record 19th consecutive year sub-4, Hobbs Kessler – 12th U.S. high schooler sub-4 – sets prep indoor Mile record, two more father-son sub-4 combo club members and NCAA Indoor champion Cole Hocker leads youth charge highlight another pandemic year
By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile...
Read More comments
At 40th edition, nearly 4,000 finishers in 20 heats run, including FDNY / NYPD heat, on 20th anniversary weekend of 9/11; prize purse of $34,000 awarded
From NYRR
NEW YORK - Tokyo Olympians Jake Wightman and Jemma Reekie led a British sweep of the professional athlete races at the 40th...
Read More comments
Women’s race champion clocks fastest Mile on Washington state soil to collect $5000 bonus
Race reports by Scott Spruill & Luke Thompson, Yakima Herald-Republic & BBTM
YAKIMA, Wash. – Reaching North First Street, Nikki Hiltz knew it was time to go. Or very likely lose.
So when the road Mile...
Read More comments
"Felt great to be able to close down the last 400, and finish with some confidence 4 weeks out from Trials."
WATERTOWN, Mass. - The 2021 adidas Boost Boston Games kicked off with middle distance action Sunday morning at Watertown outside the city center. The nation’s fastest high schoolers...
Read More comments
“I’m definitely now very driven to just kind of do it all over again, make the Olympic team and then make the final of the Olympics."
By Sieg Lindstrom, Track & Field News
What a difference a year can make. That’s true by the truckload when 2019 and ’20 are the benchmarks and Miler Nikki...
Read More comments
German Olympian to face formidable field including American stars Elinor Purrier & Nikki Hiltz and Canadian Gabriela DeBues-Stafford at The Armory; live national NBC broadcast
From NYRR
NEW YORK – Defending champion and World Championship medalist Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany, 2018 NCAA...
Read More comments
Her chance to make the Tokyo Olympics is solid, but it’s Hiltz’s commitment to staying true to herself from now on that will lead her to the happiest finish lines.
By Erin Strout, Women's Running
It wasn’t until she came out to her family in 2016 that Nikki Hiltz, now 25, started running at...
Read More comments
Longstanding indoor and outdoor Mile world records broken; Herrera & Kampf BBTM Grand Prix Tour champions and more BBTM Effect!
By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile
The Bring Back the Mile campaign was launched in January 2012 to elevate & celebrate the storied distance, and over the past 8...
Read More comments
Four Mile maniacs also win Tour presenting sponsor Running Warehouse $50 gift cards and BBTM swag
Bring Back the Mile, the campaign to elevate & celebrate the iconic distance, has announced the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019 two "Best Moments" winners per gender. Click on the athlete name below for...
Read More comments
“When my career is over and all said and done, I want to be remembered as more than just a good athlete. I believe this motivates me to run faster. The faster I run the more people I’m going to reach and the more lives I can potentially change.”
By Dave Hunter, Track & Field News
Last year,...
Read More comments
Aptos High alum victorious in first international race in Lima, Peru
By Julie Jag, Santa Cruz Sentinel
It turns out that Nikki Hiltz runs just as fast on international soil as she does at home.
Hiltz of Aptos cruised to victory in the 1500 meters at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, on...
Read More comments
At Grand Blue Mile, event and championship record for Hiltz, men's photo finish; $27,500 prize purse awarded; also first stop on BBTM Grand Prix Tour presented by Running Warehouse
Contributed by Scott Bush, USATF, and Drake Athletic Communications
DES MOINES, Iowa – Deep fields led to...
Read More comments
“I think the crowd brought me home and it was a super close finish."
By Juan Reyes, Register-Pajaronian
Nikki Hiltz made her first-ever trip to Boston to compete at the Boston Athletic Association Invitational Mile last Saturday and did what she’s been doing throughout her prestigious running...
Read More comments
“How you deal with the low days determines your success in this sport. It makes you who you are.”
From Runner's World / adidas
Every runner knows that you stand on the podium alone, but getting there takes support. Nikki Hiltz aspires to stand there one day as a top-3 American Miler, but the...
Read More comments
Dan Gruber raises generations of Milers on the Central California Coast
By Jon Gugala, Bring Back the Mile contributing writer
EDITOR'S NOTE: On June 3, junior Nikki Hiltz won the California State Meet at 1600 meters. Jon Gugala spoke to Hiltz shortly after who commented that "it was the best...
Read More comments
Brad Nye, Wesley Frazier lead the field for June 9 event in New York City
NEW YORK – (April 25, 2012) – Seven high school athletes have been added to the adidas Dream Mile as part of the adidas Grand Prix set for Saturday, June 9 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. The adidas Dream Mile draws...
Read More commentsReturn the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.
ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.
CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance, to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.
Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!