Aptos native Nikki Hiltz, 31, named to Time’s The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 earlier this week, won the women’s 800 meters ‘A’ final in a photo finish at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at Allyson Felix Field on Saturday.
Hiltz finished in 1 minute, 59.14 seconds to edge Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska (1:59.15) for the win. American Valery Tobias (1:59.72) took third in the A final.
Hiltz, a 2025 Olympian who identifies as nonbinary, is an icon in the LGBTQ+ community and will be inducted into the inducted into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame in New York on June 25.
Women’s golf
Inkster sets record: World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, a Santa Cruz native, concluded her historic showing at the Dow Championship in Midland, Michigan, by tying for 12th place with teammate Angel Yin on Sunday.
Juli Inkster, a Santa Cruz native and World Golf Hall of Famer, plays her shot from the fifth tee during the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Dow Championship at Midland Country Club on Friday in Midland, Michigan. (Raj Mehta – Getty Images)
They closed with 64 for a 9-under-par 271 total at Midland Country Club.
“We had an amazing time out there,” said Inkster, in a press conference following the final round. “Angel played amazing today. It was fun. I think we played loose. I helped out when I could, but Angel was a driving force. I was just glad to be by her side, her partner.”
Gina Kim and teenage rookie Yana Wilson shot 17-under 263 to claim the title.
On Friday, Inkster, who at 65 years, 11 months and 19 days, became the oldest golfer to make the cut in an LPGA Tour event.
“This course is long for me, but I enjoy the challenge of it,” said Inkster, after Friday’s round. “Angel is always very positive out there with me even though I hit bad shots, so it makes it less stressful.”
Inkster bettered a record that was more than two decades old. JoAnne Carner was 64 when she made it to the weekend at the 2004 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.
It was also Inkster’s first made cut since the 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.
After the final round, Inkster said she had no immediate plans to compete in another LPGA event.
Paddling
Santa Cruz Paddle Classic: Three men from Kua Nalu Canoe Club in Santa Cruz medaled in the Santa Cruz Paddle Classic on Sunday.
Formerly known as the “Jay Race” in honor of the late Jay Moriarity, an iconic waterman from Santa Cruz, the event featured races for prone, SUP, OC1/2, and surfski paddlers.
In the Open division, Rob Gibbs won gold with a time of 1:35 for the 12-mile course, with Yohei Rosen, also of Kua Nalu, finished second in 1:42.
Tai Boutell of Kua Nalu won bronze in the Master Men division in 1:48.
Women’s soccer
Silicon Valley FC 2, at Eclipse Soccer Academy 1: Rachel Golden finished off a through ball from Amelia Fung for the early lead, but Eclipse Soccer Academy, a semipro team in Santa Cruz, gave up a pair of unanswered goals in their United Premier Soccer League loss at Santa Cruz High on Saturday night.
Unbeaten Silicon Valley FC (6-0-1; 19 points) sits atop the Women’s NorCal South Division standings.
“We played really well for most of the game,” said Eclipse head coach German Plaza. “We controlled the midfield, defended well as a group, and created a lot of chances. Unfortunately, we only converted one of them. Against a team like Silicon Valley, you have to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Eclipse (4-2-1; 13 points) faces Santa Cruz Jaws (0-5-1; 1 point) on Wednesday at Harbor High at 7 p.m. and hosts Atletico San Jose FC (5-2-0; 15 points) at Santa Cruz High on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Reporting Scores
Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to sports@santacruzsentinel.com following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.