By Chris Chavez
October 15, 2024
U.S. Olympian and 2024 World Indoor 1500m silver medalist Nikki Hiltz has signed on to be a Racer in the “short distance” category ahead of Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season in 2025.
Here’s what you need to know:
– Hiltz has been the best U.S. 1500m runner of the last several years, having won three national titles, the World Indoor 1500m silver medal, running 3:55.33 for No. 2 on the U.S. 1500m list, and breaking the mile American record in 4:16.35 at the 2023 Monaco Diamond League.
– Hiltz’s best performance of this year came in the U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m final, where they managed to drop more than four seconds from their PB to win the race in 3:55.33 and secure a place in their first Olympic Games. The Trials victory puts them at No. 9 on the 2024 season’s list for 1500m.
– At the Paris Olympics, Hiltz ran 4:00.42 in the heats before clocking a 3:56.17 in the semifinals. Hiltz was among the leaders in the final after a 60-second first lap but lost touch in the final 400m and finished seventh in 3:56.38 – just ahead of fellow American Elle St. Pierre, who was eighth in 3:57.52.
– Hiltz is the first short distance Racer signed by GST. The group will contest the 800m and 1500m at each respective Slam. Athletes will receive points for their finishing position in the two races. After the two events, the athlete with the highest point total will win the Slam and the $100,000 prize for first place. The men’s short distance group is headlined by the full Olympic podium that includes Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr and Yared Nuguse.
– Hiltz boasts an 800m personal best of 1:59.03 from April 2023 and went three-for-three in 800m races in 2024.
What They Had To Say
Hiltz shared via press release: “I’m ecstatic to be a part of Grand Slam Track. The opportunity to compete in regularly scheduled elite meets like these Slams is a great step forward for us as athletes, and I’m certain fans will love the concept. MJ explained the vision to me and it was obvious that being involved in this was a no-brainer. I can’t wait to get started.”
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Who Else Has Signed With Grand Slam Track?
– Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (June 18th)
– Josh Kerr (June 27th)
– Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse (Sept. 4th)
– Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek (Sept. 12th)
– Melissa Jefferson (Sept. 19th)
– Masai Russell, Cyrena Samba Mayela and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Sept. 25th)
– Alison Dos Santos and Clément Ducos (Sept. 26th)
– Muzala Samukonga (Sept. 26th)
– Quincy Hall and Matthew Hudson-Smith (Oct. 10th)
– Grant Fisher and Ronald Kwemoi (Oct. 15th)
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Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
