Nia Akins Explained

Nia Akins
Nationality:American
Birth Date:7 July 1998
Sport:Athletics
Event:800m
Pb:800m: (1:57.36 Eugene, Oregon, 2024)

Nia Akins (born July 7, 1998) is an American track and field athlete. In 2023, she became the United States national champion over 800m; both indoors and outdoors.[1]

Early life

From San Diego, the daughter of Nicol Hodges, she attended Rancho Bernardo High School before attending the University of Pennsylvania in 2016.[2] [3] On May 18, 2020, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing.[4]

Career

Competing at a collegiate level, was a two-time NCAA 800m runner-up. At the 2019 NACAC U23 Championships she won a silver medal in the 800m in Queretaro, Mexico.[5]

Akins was the only runner to turn pro in 2020, having run the second-fastest 800m time in NCAA history of 2:00.71 at the Boston Invitational.[6] She moved to Seattle to train under Danny Mackey with the Brooks Beasts Track Club, alongside athletes such as Olympic medalist Josh Kerr, and Allie Ostrander.[7]

In July 2022, she ran a new personal best time of 1:58.78 in Memphis, Tennessee.[8]

In February 2023, Akins won the US national indoor 800m title, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[9] She started her 2023 outdoor season with victories at both of her outdoor 800m races, running a 1:59.37 at the Portland Track Festival and then a 1:59.76 in Portland on June 24, 2023.[10]

Competing at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in Eugene, Oregon, she reached the final of the 800m competition as the fastest qualifier and won the final ahead of Raevyn Rogers.[11] She was selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023.[12] She ran a new personal best in the final, running 1:57.73 in finishing sixth.[13] She also made her Diamond League debut in August 2023, finishing fourth in the 800 metres in Zürich.[14]

Aikens won the 800m at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon, on June 24, 2024, to secure a place at the Paris Olympics.[15]

International competitions

2023World Athletics ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary6th800m1:57.73

National championships

2019USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDes Moines, Iowa7th800m2:04.39
2021Olympic TrialsEugene, Oregon9th800m2:12.87
2022USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsSpokane, Washington7th800m2:05.88
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon11th800m2:01.90
2023USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, New Mexicobgcolor=gold1st800m2:00.16
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=gold1st800m1:59.50
2024USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, New Mexico3rd800m2:00.90
USA Olympic TrialsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=gold1st800m1:57.36

Personal life

Akins is also a musician who records her own music.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nia Akins . World Athletics . July 7, 2023.
  2. Web site: Nia Akins . Pennathletics.com . July 7, 2023.
  3. Web site: RB grad making strides on track, in nursing . July 6, 2023 . San Diego Union Tribune . Terry . Monahan . June 27, 2019.
  4. Web site: I’m an All-American Runner and Ivy League Grad. I Still Can’t Escape Racism . Runners World . July 7, 2023 . June 11, 2020.
  5. Web site: Akins Earns Silver in 800 at NACAC U23 Championships. Pennathletics . July 7, 2023 . July 6, 2019 .
  6. Web site: Nia Akins runs second-fastest 800m in NCAA history . July 7, 2023 . Penntoday . February 16, 2020.
  7. Web site: After joining a professional track team, Nia Akins adjusts to life in Seattle . thedp.com . July 7, 2023 . Kathryn . Xu . July 4, 2020.
  8. Web site: 2022 Ed Murphey Classic Results – Final American Track League Meet Results . Lets Run . July 7, 2023 . July 30, 2022.
  9. Web site: Sam Prakel Completes the Double*, Nikki Hiltz, Nia Akins Get First USATF Track Titles . Lets Run . June 7, 2023 . February 19, 2023.
  10. Web site: 2023 USAs W800/1500 Preview: Will Sinclaire Johnson Repeat & How Does Athing Mu Do in the 1500? . July 7, 2023 . Lets Run . Jonathan . Gault . June 30, 2023.
  11. Web site: Women's 800m Results: USATF Outdoor Championships 2023. Watch Athletics . July 8, 2023 . July 7, 2023 .
  12. Web site: USATF Announces 2023 World Championship Roster. letsrun.com . August 8, 2023 . August 7, 2023 . Jonathan . Gault .
  13. Web site: Women's 800m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023 . August 23, 2023 . August 23, 2023 . World Athletics.
  14. Web site: Women's 800m Results: Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League 2023 . Watch Athletics . September 1, 2023 . August 31, 2023.
  15. Web site: Olympic champion Mu falls in US trials & will miss Paris . BBC Sport . June 25, 2024.
  16. Web site: Everything Pro Runner Nia Akins Wears on the Run . nymag.com . July 6, 2023 . January 18, 2022 . Karen . Iorio Adelson.

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