Heidi Nielson - Women's Cross Country - Arkansas Razorbacks

Heidi Nielson

R-So. | 5-6 | Distance | Katy, Texas | Cinco Ranch HS

Sophomore (2022-23)
Outdoor: Fourth in SEC 5,000m with a 16:15.14 and added seventh place in 1,500m with a 4:22.56 … Competed in 5,000m at NCAA West preliminary round, setting a career best 16:02.70 to finish 21st … Opened outdoor season placing third in 5,000m at Stanford Invitational with a 16:05.37 performance … Runner-up in 1,500m at Drake Relays with a 4:21.51 … Won 1,500m at Arkansas Twilight in career best 4:18.63.

Indoor: Finished fourth in SEC Indoor 5,000m with a 16:16.56 and placed 12th in 3,000m (9:31.00) … Started indoor season placing second in mile with a career best of 4:44.79 at Arkansas Invitational … Finished ninth in 3,000m at Razorback Invitational with a 9:24.59 … Competing in Husky Classic at Washington, posted times of 4:47.87 in mile at 16:18.94 in 5,000m … Placed 10th in mile at Arkansas Qualifier (4:47.46).

Cross Country: Competed in SEC Championships, placing 43rd with a time of 21:01.3 on 6k course at Ole Miss … Raced in first meet with Razorbacks at Missouri Southern Stampede, placing 23rd with a time of 17:50.0 over 5k course … Covered 6k course at OSU Cowboy Jamboree in 22:10.9 to place 115th … Finished 38 at Chile Pepper Festival, clocking 17:34.3 over 5k course at Agri Park … Placed 49th in Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational, running 22:00.4 on 6k course.

Freshman (2021-22)
Outdoor: One of just four entrants in the World U20 Championships held in Cali, Colombia, to compete in both the 3,000m and 5,000m … Placed 12th in 3,000m (9:56.35) and 13th in 5,000m (17:13.97) … Qualified for World U20 by placing second in the 5,000m at the USATF U20 Championships with a career best of 16:30.50 and third in the 3,000m with a 9:52.98 … Competing unattached, won 3,000m at Arkansas Twilight in a career best of 9:43.46.

Indoor: Competed in two races before injury cut season short … Set a career best of 4:50.17 as runner-up in mile at Arkansas Invitational … Debut at 3,000m produced a 9:21.30 for 3,000m to finish fifth at Razorback Invitational.

Cross Country: did not compete.

HIGH SCHOOL
Fifth in 5,000m at 2019 Pan-American U20 Championships. 2019 USATF Junior silver medalist in 5,000m (16:54.02 PR) and placed fourth in 1,500m (4:34.24). Won 5,000m title at 2018 New Balance Nationals.

Bronze medalist at 2021 Texas 6A State Championships in 1,600m and 3,200m. Silver medalist in 1,600m at 2019 Texas 6A meet and fourth in 3,200m. During 2018 state meet, silver medalist in 1,600m and bronze medalist in 3,200m. Summer racing in 2021 included a victory at 3,200m in TTFCA Meet of Champions, along with runner-up efforts in mile at NSAF Meet of Champions (4:48.50), and in 1,600m at Texas Distance Festival.

Cross county accolades include bronze medal in 2020 Texas 6A championship. In 2018, she finished fourth in Texas 6A State meet after third in Region III-6A. Finished 26th in Nike Nationals and placed 28th in Foot Locker Nationals after placing second in FL South Regional and fifth in Nike South Regional. Also, fourth in 2017 Texas 6A State meet after winning Region III title.

Career best marks: 2:12.39 (800m), 4:27.23 (1,500m), 4:46.38 (1,600m), 4:46.31 (Mile), 9:46.71 (3,200m), 11:07.90 (2 Mile), 16:54.02 (5,000m)
Indoor: 4:52.48 (Mile)
XC: 16:55.6 (5k), 21:31.0 (6k)

 

Heidi Nielson | Career stats

Indoor

  • Mile | 4:44.79
  • 3,000m | 9:21.30

Outdoor

  • 800m | 2:12.39 (HS)
  • 1,500m | 4:18.63
  • Mile | 4:46.31 (HS)
  • 3,000m | 9:43.46
  • 5,000m | 16:02.70