Nicklason is coming off his first appearance in the NCAA Preliminary Championships the 1,500 meters, a testament to the freshman's focus and talent in his first season as a collegian. He's using his time on the track at USF as a bridge to go from an elite junior athlete in Australia to a senior athlete with aspirations of international competition.
"I was looking for a coach that understood where I was coming from," Nicklason noted. "I was looking for a program where – to have all these great guys to train with. I wanted to have someone that not just pushed me, but also I guess could keep me in line and keep me focused on my goals. And I think basically that's what Helen and Benji [Wetli] offered better than anyone."
"Hugh is hands down the most talented athlete that we've brought into our program as a freshman," said Lehman-Winters. "He has the talent and he has the tools to be a very successful athlete, but he also has the mind and he has the vision (USFAthletics)."
NCAA Qualifier - TF (1,500 m - 2016, 17)
Holds the USF record in the 800 and 1,500 meters
2018 Track & Field: Competed in five meets, featuring mostly in the 1,500 meters and one appearance in the mile…earned his seasonal best mark in the 1,500 meters at the Cardinal Classic (Apr. 21) with his time of 3:48.11, finishing 9th overall…finished sixth in the mile at the Brutus Hamilton (Apr. 28) with his time of 4:11.03…finish in the top-10 in all five meets, including two sixth place finishes at the Brutus Hamilton and Portland Twilight (May 12).
2017 Cross Country: Raced in all five meets for the Dons on the year...posted a season-best time of 24:33.7 at the WCC Championships to finish 18th...at the Regionals he finished the 10K race with a time of 30:52.2 to place 73rd.
2017 Track & Field: Competed in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Championships on May 25 … raced to a personal best of 8:32.44 in the 3,000 meters on the indoor oval at the Washington Invitational on Jan. 28 … set the school record in the 800 meters at the Hornet Invitational on March 18, clocking in at 1:50.17 and placing third … raced to a  then USF-best 1,500 meter time of 3:43.70 taking fourth at the Stanford Invitational on March 31 … bettered the Dons record set in his last outing when he crossed the line in 3:43.01 at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14.
2016 Cross Country: Raced three times for USF during the 2016 season … finished with a season-best 8K mark of 25:39.0 at Pre-Nationals on Oct. 15 … also competed at the Griak Invitational and WCC Championships for the Dons.
2016 Track & Field: NCAA West Preliminary Championships participant in the 1,500 meters … ran a season-best 800 m time of 1:50.1 taking fourth at the Stanford Invitational on April 2 … took 14th clocking in at 1:50.19 in the 800m at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 15 … posted a NCAA regional qualifying time of 3:44.12 in the 1,500 m taking ninth at the Stanford Twilight on April 22.
High School/Prep/International and Personal: Son of Ingrid Nicklason and Richard Badcock ... attended Taroona High School from 2009-2012 before Elizabeth College in 2013 ... received several academic awards in high school such as the Silver Medal for Academic Excellence, Ancient Civilizations Award, Geography Award, Award for Excellence in Humanities and the Elizabeth College Advanced Academic Diploma ... received the John Steven Memorial Award for Contribution to Sport ... track and field captain in 2012 ... ran 800m in 1:49.46, a personal record for him ... in the 3,000 m he ran a personal best of 8:27.05 ... All Schools National Champion (U-16 1500M in 2011 and U-18 800M in 2012) ... six time Tasmanian State record holder (U-16 800M, U-16 1500M, U-16 Mile, U-17 1500M, U-19 1000M, U-20 1000M) ... Australian Junior champion (U-17 1500m 2012), Australian Junior silver medalist (U-20 1500m 2015), 3x Australian Junior bronze medalist (U-17 800m 2012, U-18 1500m 2013, U-20 800m 2015) … 1x Australian Underage representative (AYOF (Australian Youth Olympic festival) 2013) … 2 x Gold AYOF medals (800m, 1500m)…Meet record for 1500m, formerly held by now Australian record holder, Ryan Gregson.
