Logan StanleyArizona Republic
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Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article gave incorrect information on the number of previous Arizona high school athletes who set national records. There were three: Jim Howard of Arcadia High School also set a national record in the discus in 1971.
The sport of track and field has a long and rich history in Arizona.
Dallas Long first wowed spectators as a junior at Phoenix North High School in the shot put in 1957 before setting the U.S. national high school record as a senior the following year, breaking his record three times to end up at 69-3 feet. Long finished ranked second overall in the world that year. He went on to win gold in 1964 in Tokyo with an Olympic record throw.
In 1971, Jim Howard, then a senior at Phoenix Arcadia High School, added to the state's legacy by throwing an astonishing 201-7 in the discus to break the national record by four inches. Howard won state titles in the discus and the shot put that year.
Then, a young sprinter from Phoenix South Mountain by the name of Dwayne Evans took the world by storm when he ran 20.22 in the 200 meters as a 17-year-old at the U.S. Olympic Trials, setting the national high school record in the event and qualifying for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Evans, fresh off his high school graduation, won bronze at the Olympics later that summer.
Those three were the only Arizona athletes ever to have set a national high school record — until this season.
At the Arizona Interscholastic State Track and Field Championships at Mesa Community College on May 11, Gilbert senior Vance Nilsson ran 34.83 in the 300-meter hurdles to set the U.S. high school national record in the event. Nilsson, a former wide receiver who left football to focus solely on track and field, became the first American prep athlete to ever run under 35 seconds. The time is the sixth-fastest ever in the world.
He joins Long, Howard and Evans on that list, placing himself among track and field royalty.
Nilsson is The Arizona Republic’s Male Athlete of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year, as well as being the Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year. They were among the honors announced Monday night at the Arizona High School Sports Awards event presented byDiamond Kitchen & Bath,and presented in partnership withWestern States Home Services. The Republic's players of the year in AIA-sanctioned sports were announced along with other specialty awards.
“I think it’s great,” Nilsson said. “It shows that I have the potential to do those things. The Olympics hasn’t been a factor that I have really realistically thought about until this season. If you would have told me that I got this award when I was playing football my sophom*ore year, I probably would have not believed you. Track isn’t one of the sports that would commonly get an award like this because football and baseball are bigger. I’m honored to get the award.”
More sports awards: Sunnyside's Audrey Jimenez named Republic's 2023-24 Female High School Athlete of the Year
Now, all he needs is an Olympic medal to match Long and Evans. He’s working on that.
Nilsson recently committed to run on scholarship at Florida, joining one of the sport’s top coaches in Mike Holloway, to pursue his dream of running at the next level and beyond.
Nilsson didn’t just dominate the 300-meter hurdles. He also took down the state record in the 110-meter hurdles, running 13.39 to beat the old record of 13.50 set in 2013 by Phoenix Brophy Prep’s Devon Allen. Allen went on to become an NCAA champion at Oregon and has made two Olympic teams. Sensing a theme, here?
On the season, Nilsson was a perfect 25-0 in every hurdle race. Overall, Nilsson didn’t lose a single individual race.
The 6-foot-2-inch Nilsson possesses a rare blend of genetics and ambition. His tall, lengthy frame is built ideally for the hurdles as Nilsson's long strides eat up the track. However, his constant drive to compete and desire to be the best sets him apart.
“Right now, he’s in a great spot with what he’s been able to do here,” Gilbert track and field coach Devin Green said. “He’s getting ready to go to Florida. He’s going to be with one of the best, if not the best, coach in the world for his event for what he’s trying to do. He’s just getting started with who he’s about to be teamed up with the next four years.”
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school and Olympic sports. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@LSscribe.
