2025 Cross Country Roster
Roster
Gordy Nilsen
- Height:
- 5-10
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Boulder, Colo.
- High School:
- Fairview HS
HONORS AND AWARDS:
WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention — 2024
WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll (Bronze) — 2023-24, 2024-25
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2026: Competed in nine meets ... Ran the team's fastest times of the season in the 1500m (3:47.29), 5K (14:19.11), and 10K (30:37.08) ... Respectively, these times place him second, second, and third all-time in Pepperdine history ... Helped set the DMR record (9:54.18).
PEPPERDINE XC 2025: Took third in the Waves Invite with a time of 18:09.1.
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2025: Continued positive momentum from cross country season by running four top-10 times as a sophomore ... Ran the fourth-fastest 1500m time at the Bryan Clay Invitational with his time of 3:52.87 ... Made his debut in the 3000m steeplechase at the Triton Invite, where he ran the fifth-fastest time in program history with a 9:49.29 ... Ran the fourth-fastest 5K time in program history at the AstroAI Distance Classic with his time of 14:30.38 ... Broke the school record in the 3K with his time of 8:20.53 at the Westmont Sunshine Open.
PEPPERDINE XC 2024: Enjoyed a breakout sophomore season as Pepperdine's lead runner in five of the six races ... Ran the program's sixth-fastest 10-kilometer time (31:16.2) and the 12th-fastest 8-kilometer time (24:40.1) as a sophomore ... Had three top-20 finishes to begin the season, starting with a 19th-place finish at the Waves Invite ... Placed sixth at the Pacific Invitational with a then-personal-best 8K time of 25:18.8 ... Ran a lifetime-best 8K time of 24:40.1 to place 20th at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational ... Led Pepperdine at the Highlander Invitational and placed 26th with his time of 24:52.1 ... Was Pepperdine's second finisher at the WCC Championships and placed 31st overall — a 16-spot improvement over his freshman year ... Was a top-100 finisher at the NCAA West Regional where he ran his personal-best 10K time of 31:16.2.
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2024: Competed in 10 outdoor track meets as a true freshman ... Focused primarily on the 1500m run but ran every distance from 800m up to the 5K ... Ran the program's sixth-fastest 1500m dash time in the season finale at the Franson Last Chance meet with a time of 3:56.18.
PEPPERDINE XC 2023: Competed in all six cross country races as a true freshman, including both postseason races ... In his collegiate debut, was Pepperdine's second runner at the LMU South Bay Twilight and broke 26 minutes in the 8-kilometer distance with a time of 25:55.8 ... Placed sixth for Pepperdine at the Waves Invitational ... Was Pepperdine's sixth runner at the UC Riverside Invitational.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Fairview High School, located in Boulder, Colo. ... A three-year varsity cross country and track athlete ... Three-time Academic All-State first team recipient ... A part of the Front Range League Cross Country 2022 championship squad and the 2021 Cross Country Regional championship squad ... A part of the 2023 Conference 4x800m relay Championship team ... Holds the Fairview school record in the 1600m with a time of 4:19.52 ... Earned All-Conference in 2023 for track ... Named Fairview XC Runner and Scholar-Athlete of the Year senior year ... Earned 5A All-State honorable mention in 2022 for cross country ... Also lettered in hockey and football.
PERSONAL: Born in Denver, Colo. ... Son of Patty and Steve Nilsen ... Has an identical twin brother: Rowan, who also runs for Pepperdine ... Dad played hockey and football at Hamline University ... Chose Pepperdine because "of my love for the ocean, but the atmosphere surrounding the school. It all felt right with the Christian community, academics, and running team."
FAVORITES: Hobbies include surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding and off-roading ... Favorites include Joe Klecker and Matthew Tkachuk (pro athletes), On Running and Florida Panthers (pro teams), A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca (book), Unbroken (movie), Narcos (TV show), Deftones (musical artist), lobster (food) and hockey (sport other than running).
