Nikki Hiltz posts best ever World Indoor qualifying time in 1,500m

GLASGOW, Scotland – The opening day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships had Nikki Hiltz setting a career best of 4 minutes, 4.34 seconds to lead the qualifying group in the 1,500m into Sunday’s final.

Hiltz, who moves to No. 5 on the U.S. all-time indoor list in the 1,500m, charged to the finish to slip ahead of Great Britain’s Georgia Bell, runner-up in 4:04.39. Hiltz covered the last 200m in 29.07 seconds and clocked 14.41 over the final 100m.

The time by Hiltz is also the fastest in the first round of a World Indoor Championships, topping the 4:04.83 set in 2022 by Ethiopia’s Axumawit Embaye, who was a silver medalist in the final.

“It was funny being in Great Britain, I feel a little hate from the crowd but I’m just excited for the finals,” Hiltz said. “The first couple of laps were slow but I ended with a PR. In the last 50m I was wondering if I should do it and win the race. Winning is a habit and I knew I had another gear.

“The track is awesome. The curves are a little tight but it’s super-fast. It’s hard to get around people but you can which I think is going to make for some super-fast finishes. All this is just getting ready for Paris and adding some experience.”

Bell noted: “I shouldn’t have let up at the line. It’s a lesson learned but I’m glad I made it in the heat and not the final.”

Alexis Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville, raced in the 400m twice on Friday and finished behind world record holder Femke Bol of the Netherlands each time.

Racing from lane 3 in the semifinal, Holmes was just behind Bol, who started in lane 5, at the break (23.82 to 23.93). Bol won the heat in 50.66 with Holmes runner-up in 50.99. In the morning session, Bol clocked 52.00 while Holmes finished in 52.53.

Holmes will occupy lane 3 in the final with Bol again in lane 5. American Talitha Diggs is in lane 4 while Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands starts in lane 6.