“While it’s common for a top intermediate hurdler to produce big time drops at the end of the season, Vance Nilsson pushed that to a new level. Slicing 1.46 seconds off his best 300-meter time during the final month of the regular season, one of the oldest individual national records on the books tumbled as a result. The real shame is that Vance’s season concluded just as he was learning the 400-meter hurdles, which he will run in college.”

Rich Gonzalez

editor for PrepCalTrack.com

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-3, 165-pound senior hurdler smashed the national record in the 300-meter event—a mark that had stood for 15 years—breaking the tape in 34.83 seconds this past season at the AIA Division I state meet. Nilsson was also this spring’s national leader in the 400 hurdles, winning the USATF U20 Championships title in 50.23, which is the No. 20 time in U.S. prep history. Completing the hurdling trifecta, he clocked a personal-best 13.39 in the 110 hurdles at the AIA Division 1 championships, which ranks No. 21 all-time. He broke the state record in all three hurdles events and ranks among the Top 25 nationally in history in all three as well.

Academic Achievement

Nilsson has maintained a 4.00 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on scholarship at the University of Florida this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of Gilbert High Captains Council, which helps foster leadership and support for the athletic teams at the high school, Nilsson has volunteered locally with the Feed My Starving Children initiative, which provides food packages for those in need. He also has donated his time as a youth flag football referee.