Nikki Hiltz

Nikki Hiltz ( HILTS; born October 23, 1994) is an American middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 meters and mile. Hiltz holds the American record in the mile and as of 2025, has won eight consecutive US titles across the mile and 1500m. Hiltz won a silver medal at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

Hiltz competed collegiately for the Oregon Ducks and Arkansas Razorbacks.

They came out as transgender and nonbinary on International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2021. Hiltz was assigned female at birth and has been competing in the Women's category since childhood.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hiltz finished seventh in the women's 1500 meter final.

Career

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.

In cross country, Hiltz finished fifth at the 2010 California state championships as a sophomore. Later that year, they qualified for Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals where they placed 17th.

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 US junior 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.