Hammer’s record week garners GPAC POTW honor
MITCHELL, S.D. – For the first time in his career, freshman standout Ben Hammer earned a conference weekly honor after setting a new school record for the Dakota Wesleyan University men’s track and field team at the Dordt College Invite Saturday in Sioux Center, Iowa.
MITCHELL, S.D. – For the first time in his career, freshman standout Ben Hammer earned a conference weekly honor after setting a new school record for the Dakota Wesleyan University men's track and field team at the Dordt College Invite Saturday in Sioux Center, Iowa.
The Dell Rapids, S.D., native has been named the Great Plains Athletic Conference Men's Field Athlete of the Week, it was announced by the conference Tuesday.
The 6-foot-8 thrower set a new school in the discus, finishing second in the event with a toss of 51.75 meters (169 feet, 9 inches). The competition was just the second time Hammer competed in the discus at the college level. He was second only to an unattached thrower, Cody Snyder, who is training for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The toss was the highest record by any GPAC thrower this season and sixth in the NAIA.
Hammer added a first-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 15.31 meters, while adding an eighth-place showing in the hammer throw.
In the men's indoor season, Hammer qualified for the NAIA Championships in the shot put with the second farthest toss in program history at 15.62 meters. He finished 15th in at nationals in the event.
Hammer and the rest of the Tigers are in action next at the Sioux City Relays hosted by Morningside College this weekend in Sioux City, Iowa.
