Nikki Hiltz delivered a historic performance at the USATF Indoor Championships in Staten Island, N.Y., becoming the first runner to achieve a remarkable sweep of the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter middle-distance races since 2020.
On Saturday, Hiltz claimed victory in the women’s 3,000 meters, and on Sunday, they followed up with a dominant win in the 1,500 meters, setting personal bests in both events. Their victory in the 1,500 also marked their fifth consecutive U.S. title across indoor and outdoor tracks—an unprecedented achievement in the event’s history.
Racing for Representation
Hiltz, who is trans and nonbinary, proudly represents the LGBTQ+ community in the sport. Their partner, Emma Gee, a fellow accomplished runner, celebrated Hiltz’s achievement on Instagram:
“1500 AND 3k Indoor Champion‼️ Feeling very lucky to be able to watch @nikkihiltz do what they love this weekend. … Thank you @nikkihiltz for making this sport so exciting and for showing the queer community that they belong anywhere they decide to be ❤️ especially now, and especially in sports.”
Reflecting on the moment, Hiltz told Citius that their back-to-back wins and personal records made for an unforgettable weekend:
“It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Hiltz, who reached the 1,500-meter final at the Paris Olympics and finished seventh, explained their strategy for the indoor championships:
“Indoors is about positioning. You can lead indoors better than outdoors. There’s no wind. The turns are tighter. Sometimes the pole position is the best position,” they told NBC Sports’ Lewis Johnson.
What’s Next for Hiltz?
In the 3,000-meter race, Hiltz edged out Shelby Houlihan in a thrilling finish, winning by just 0.15 seconds. With these victories, they secured a spot at next month’s Indoor World Championships. However, Hiltz has opted to skip the event to focus on the upcoming Grand Slam outdoor season, which kicks off in Jamaica in April.
With their latest wins, Hiltz continues to break barriers and inspire others, proving that representation in sports matters now more than ever.
