Arkansas alums claim four titles at USATF and UK national meets

On a weekend of USATF and British indoor national championship meets, Arkansas alums produced four national titles with Nikki Hiltz claiming a 1,500m and 3,000m double while Chris Bailey and Amber Anning each earned 400m victories.

At the USATF Indoor Championships in Staten Island, New York, Hiltz won an extremely close 3,000m in 8:48.28 on Saturday, and then captured their third consecutive 1,500m title on Sunday in 4:05.76.

“I just want to compete, I always want to race in a national championship,” said Hiltz, who has opted not to compete at the World Indoor Championships next month. “It feels good to win two races here this weekend.”

The previous 1,500m and 3,000m double at the USATF Indoor was accomplished in 2020 by Shelbi Houlihan, who also achieved double victories in 2017 and 2018.

Also in New York, Bailey cruised to a 45.21 victory in the 400m to register his first national title. He entered the meet as the 2025 world leader with a 44.70. Finishing behind Bailey were Jacory Patterson (45.60), Elija Godwin (46.09), and defending champion Brian Faust (46.11).

“It’s a big honor to represent the United States,” stated Bailey. “This is my fifth consecutive team, so I’m just trying to keep that string going.”

Bailey qualified for the 2024 World Indoor meet in Glasgow, Scotland, as a member of the United States silver medal 4 x 400m relay and had a goal of qualifying in the 400m this year.

Following his World Indoor appearance last year, Bailey made the USA Olympic team and placed sixth in the Paris 400m final (44.58) and ran on the Olympic record 4 x 400m relay (2:54.43).

Also in 2024, Bailey competed for the United States at the World Relays in the Bahamas. In 2023, he was a member of the 4 x 400m relay at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Anning, racing in Birmingham, England, won the UK Athletics Indoor 400m title with a time of 51.40 seconds. Lina Nielsen finished as runner-up with a career best of 51.77 while Ama Pippi claimed third in 52.10.

Anning will be part of the British team at the European Indoor Championships held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, on the March 6-9 weekend. The World Indoor Championships will be held in Nanjing, China, on the weekend of March 21-23.

“It’s been a long two days with three races,” noted Anning, who had a prelim and semifinal on Saturday. “It’s a bit tough, but I’m glad we all got through it. I’m pleased that we’re taking a good group of girls over there to get the job done.

“I’m not competing as much this indoor season and mostly training. At Arkansas training is very tough. Every workout is focusing on the little things and embracing it day by day. The plan was to get ready for the European Indoors. After Europeans, we’ll have conversations regarding World Indoors.”

Sporting a season best of 50.57 that currently ranks third best in the world for 2025, Anning trails a 50.44 by Norway’s Henriette Jaeger and 50.51 by USATF Indoor champion Alexis Holmes. Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands ranks fourth in the world this season with a 50.76.

Razorback Rosey Effiong finished as runner-up in the 400m with a 51.43 at the USATF Indoor as Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville, defended her title with a 50.51. Holmes set a meet record of 50.34 last year. Finishing behind Effiong were Quanera Hayes (51.47) and Bailey Lear (51.55).

Racing in the 60m, UA alum Jada Baylark finished fourth in a season best of 7.24.

On Saturday at the USATF Championships, Hiltz won a very close finish in the 3,000m as the top four finishers were separated by just 0.4 of a second. Shelby Houlihan clocked 8:48.43 in second with Whittni Morgan third at 8:48.56 and Emily Mackay fourth in 8:48.68.

Splits for the 8:48.28 by Hiltz, who was in fourth place at 1k and 2k, included 3:07.8, 2:59.81 (6:07.39), and 2:40.89. Hiltz held a very slight edge at 2,800m over Houlihan (8:19.06 to 8:19.08) and made another move over the final 100m to claim the win.

In Sunday’s 1,500m, Hiltz led the field over the last two laps as a 4:05.75 effort held off Sinclaire Johnson (4:06.05), Heather MacLean (4:06.69), and Houlihan (4:06.82).

Alum Krissy Gear raced in the prelims of the USATF 800m, matching the heat winning time of 2:00.56 by Sage Hurta-Klecker. Gear, though, was disqualified for a lane violation.