Aptos native Nikki Hiltz qualifies for Olympics with historic showing in 1,500

If the world didn’t know about Nikki Hiltz before, they do now.

The 29-year-old, nonbinary runner used a late kick to win the women’s 1,500-meter final on Day 10 of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon.

The Aptos native, a former standout at University of Oregon and later University of Arkansas, is Paris bound for the 2024 Summer Games, their first Olympics.

Hiltz blazed to the win in a personal-best and meet record 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds.

“I really wasn’t thinking about time,” said Hiltz, in a post-race interview with USATF. “I thought it would be sub-4, but if you would’ve told me 3:56 doesn’t make the team, I’m actually so glad I didn’t know that going in, because I didn’t know I was capable of 3:35. I was just running a race.

“I told myself before the race, don’t try to make an Olympic team, try to win a race. Now, I think I can think about it — I just made the Olympic team. I was trying to not make it bigger than it is.”

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Their previous best was 3:59.64, set at Diamond League Monaco on July 21, 2023.

The lululemon sponsored runner fooled themself during the pre-trials buildup and three massive trials races to help reduce the pressure, but there was no denying how big this race was as the crowd roared with the runners streaking down the home stretch of the four-lap race.

Massive.

“Now it’s just kinda hitting me: What does this mean?” Hiltz said. “But it’s huge.”

After doing just enough to qualify for the semifinals on Thursday — a tactic employed to conserve energy — Hiltz gave every indication they were going to make a huge statement Sunday. They also won Heat 1 of the semifinals on Friday in 4:01.40, and looked so strong and carefree in doing so.

Two other American runners who also met the Olympic standard qualified for Paris in the 1,500. New Balance’s Emily Mackay took second in the final in 3:55.90, and New Balance’s Elle St. Pierre, the 2021 trials champ, secured the final spot in the event in 3:55.99.

The top eight finishers in the 12-runner field posted personal records. Nike’s Sinclaire Johnson (3:56.75) and New Balance’s Cory McGee (3:57.44) rounded out the top five.

St. Pierre took the early lead after the starting gun, while Hiltz held tough in fourth, a position they maintained for the duration of the second lap. Hiltz dropped from fourth to sixth late in the third lap. And when the bell rang, signaling the final lap, Hiltz, a notoriously good kicker, made their move.

Hiltz surged into third with 300 meters to go, but briefly dropped back into fourth as the runners made the final turn.

That’s when the Aptos High alumna showed everyone that they were a force not to be denied. Hiltz cut to the right down the home stretch, a seemingly exhaustive move, and blazed passed Mackay and St. Pierre with 30 meters to go and held on for their place in the record books.

Hiltz threw their arms to the sky while crossing the finish line, and then patted their chest before they dropped to their knees and let the accomplishment sink in. After more than a decade of training, a coaching and location change after turning pro, the lifelong goal had become reality.

Hiltz rolled to their back and covered their eyes with their hands as they embraced their emotions. All the while, a massive smile never left their face.

Their showing on Sunday, in front of a national television audience and a packed house at historic Hayward Field, wasn’t a coming out party — just the latest party. Hiltz has been on a tear for the past 1 1/2 years.

In addition to Hiltz’s showing at the trials, they dominated multiple mile road races and posted top-three-finishes at a pair of huge meets this year. Hiltz posted a victory in the 1,500 at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., in February despite not feeling well, and finished with silver at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in March.

The biggest races are ahead of the continually improving Hiltz. The first round of 1,500 in Paris take place Aug. 6. A repechage round will be held a day later. The semifinals are slated for Aug. 8, and the final will be held Aug. 10.

Hiltz seems intent on continuing their success and becoming a household name in the process.

“Every four years the world pays attention to our sport, so now it’s time to capitalize on it,” Hiltz said.