HONORS AND AWARDS:
WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention — 2024
WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll (Bronze) — 2023-24, 2024-25
PEPPERDINE XC 2025 (JR): Took third in the Waves Invite (8/29) with a time of 18:09.1
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2025 (SO): Continued positive momentum from cross country season by running four top-10 times as a sophomore ... Ran the fourth-fastest 1,500 meter time at the Bryan Clay Invitational (4/18) with his time of 3:52.87 ... Made his debut in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Triton Invite (4/4-5), 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 (3/7) 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 (2/8).
PEPPERDINE XC 2024 (SO): 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 (8/30) ... Placed sixth at the Pacific Invitational (9/20) 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 (10/4) ... 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 (11/2) and placed 31st overall — a 16-spot improvement over his freshman year ... Was a top-100 finisher at the NCAA West Regional (11/15) where he ran his personal-best 10K time of 31:16.2.
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2024 (FR): Competed in 10 outdoor track meets as a true freshman … Focused on primarily the 1,500-meter run but ran every distance from 800-meters up to the 5K … Clocked a season-best 5K time of 15:07.54 at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic (3/29) … Ran his collegiate-best time in the 800-meters at the Chris Rinne Invitational with a time of 1:56.14 (4/29) … Ran the program’s sixth-fastest 1,500-meter dash time in the season finale at the Franson Last Chance meet with a time of 3:56.18 (5/9).
PEPPERDINE XC 2023 (FR): 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 (9/1) … 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).
