Nikki Hiltz secured their fourth consecutive outdoor US national title in the women’s 1,500 meters at the championships held in New York on July 25, delivering a dramatic finish in front of a near-capacity crowd at Icahn Stadium. Draped in a transgender pride flag after the race, Hiltz—who uses they/them pronouns—marked the occasion as a milestone for non-binary athletes in track and field.

The 31-year-old athlete completed a tactical race in 4:06.92, edging past Addison Wiley, who finished closely behind in 4:06.96, and holding off Emily Mackay’s late surge, who recorded 4:06.98. Hiltz credited the presence of their grandmother in the stands as a source of extra motivation during the race’s final stretch.

“I love this city. My mum’s from Long Island, so I feel like a little part of me is from here,” Hiltz said after the event. “She doesn’t come to a lot of meets, so I had to perform. That last 50 I told myself this is for grandma.”

In the men’s 1,500 meters, Nathan Green claimed victory with a time of 3:50.27.

This edition of the US national championships marked the first time since 1991 that the event was hosted in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the meet, contributing by holding the tape in the women’s 100 meters ambulatory final won by Brittni Mason in 12.16 seconds.

Dalilah Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist and New York native, moved past the first round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a heat-winning time of 54.80 seconds. Muhammad, 36, had been expected to retire but expressed enthusiasm about competing professionally on home soil for the first time.

“This is actually the first time ever I’ve had the opportunity [to be] racing here as a pro,” Muhammad said. “I just had to be here.”

In the women’s 400 meters flat, Aaliyah Butler secured her first national title, finishing in 49.93 seconds, ahead of Alexis Holmes (50.47 seconds). Christopher Bailey, the 2025 indoor champion, claimed the men’s 400 meters with a close finish of 44.39 seconds over Khaleb McRae (44.41 seconds).

Alia Armstrong took the women’s 100 meters hurdles title with a season-best time of 12.38 seconds, competing without 2024 Olympic champion Masi Russell, who has been prominent on the Diamond League circuit this year.

Noah Lyles, who won the men’s 100 meters title the previous day, comfortably progressed through his 200 meters heat in 20.51 seconds. After the race, Lyles noted fatigue but expressed confidence ahead of the final.

“The legs are tired,” he said. “But that’s what the prelims are for. By the end of the day, I’ll have gotten my rest, seen my medical crew and we’ll be ready for the final.”