Hiltz's Brussels win earns them USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Winning the women's 1500 at the Brussels Diamond League meet, Nikki Hiltz (Flagstaff, AZ/USATF Arizona) earned recognition as the 31st USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2025.

Hiltz, who has won three straight USATF indoor and outdoor titles in the 1500, ran a superb tactical race at Brussels, moving up from sixth to fourth to third before turning on the jets on the homestretch to pass early leader Linden Hall of Australia and win in 3:55.94. Hiltz's time was the fourth fastest ever by an American and the fastest by a U.S. runner this year.

The victory in Brussels was the first Diamond League 1500 win by an American female since 2018. Hiltz, the silver medalist at last year's World Indoor Championships and a finalist at the Paris Olympic Games, recorded their third sub-4:00 clocking of the season and now has five of the top 10 all-time American performances in the event.

Other top performances from last week:

• Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women's 100 at the Brussels Diamond League meet by .29 seconds in 10.76, continuing her undefeated streak in the event in 2025 with her fifth sub-10.8 wind-legal time.
• Katie Moon tied the world outdoor lead in the women's pole vault with a winning 4.85/15-11 at the Brussels Diamond League meet.
• Chase Jackson had the third farthest throw ever by an American to win the women's shot put by more than a meter at the Brussels Diamond League meet with a 20.90/68-7.
• Cordell Tinch won the men's 110 hurdles at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in 12.98 in cool and damp conditions.

Now in its 24th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 

2025 Winners: January 15, Zariel Macchia; January 22, Conner Mantz; January 29, Katelyn Tuohy; February 5, Ethan Strand; February 12, Yared Nuguse; February 19, Grant Fisher; February 26, Josh Hoey; March 5, Heather MacLean; March 12, Cole Boone; March 19, Isabella Whittaker; March 26, Claire Bryant; April 2, Curtis Thompson; April 9, Taylor Roe; April 16, Valarie Allman; April 23, Jane Hedengren; April 30, Kaitlin Bounds; May 6, Masai Russell; May 13, Lynna Irby-Jackson; May 20, Jaydin Blackwell; May 27, Jonah Koech; June 3, Anna Hall; June 10, Jane Hedengren; June 17, Nico Young; June 24, Cooper Lutkenhaus; July 1, Chase Jackson; July 8, Rudy Winkler; July 15, Quincy Wilson; July 22, Sinclaire Johnson; August 5, Cooper Lutkenhaus; August 19, Curtis Thompson; August 26, Nikki Hiltz.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

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