Hiltz's mile record earns them USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Bettering an American record that has stood since 1985, Nikki Hiltz (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF Arizona) earned recognition as the 26th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.
 
Hiltz, who won the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships women's 1,500 title last month, raced to a 4:16.35 mile at the Monaco Diamond League meet on July 21, clipping .36 seconds off the existing AR of 4:16.71 that was set by Mary Slaney at Zurich on August 21, 1985. Hiltz moved to No. 13 on the all-time women’s mile world performer list after finishing sixth in the deepest field ever. Kenya's Faith Kipyegon shattered the world record with a 4:07.64, and four other runners clocked times that rank them in the world all-time top 10.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Alicia Monson bettered the American record in the women's 5,000 at the London Diamond League meet with a 14:19.45 to take more than four seconds off the ratified AR.
• Noah Lyles won the London Diamond League men's 200 in a world-leading 19.47, the 10th fastest performance in history. Only Lyles, Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake have ever run faster.
• Mia Brahe-Pedersen won the women's 100 and 200 and anchored Team USATF to a meet record in the 4x100 at the NACAC U23 Championships in Costa Rica.
• Sue McDonald bettered three world records in the women’s 60-64 division at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships – 48.89 in the 300m hurdles, 2:29.97 in the 800m, and 1:02.34 in the 400m.
• Jeannie Rice bettered three world records in the women’s 75-79 division at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships – 6:14.88 in the 1500, 46:53.07 in the 10,000m, and 26:32.39 in the 5,000m.

(All records are subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee).
 
Now in its 22nd 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.
 
2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, 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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