Hammer powers to 2nd straight GPAC honor

MITCHELL, S.D. – For the second week in a row, Dakota Wesleyan University thrower Ben Hammer has earned a Great Plains Athletic Conference honor after reaching another milestone at the Sioux City Relays last weekend in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Dell Rapids, S.D., native qualified for the NAIA National Championships next month in a second event, hitting the A standard in the shot put after qualifying in the discus the week prior.

For his efforts, Hammer has been named the GPAC Field Athlete of the Week for the second time in a row, the league announced Wednesday.

The freshman finished third in the shot put with a toss of 15.60 meters to qualify for nationals. His toss was bested only by two athletes from the University of South Dakota, an NCAA Division I program.

Hammer posted a second-straight strong performance in the discus, an event he qualified for nationals in earlier this season. He took fourth place Saturday with a throw of 48.08 meters, again besting all throwers from the NAIA level.

The Tigers continue the outdoor season at the Red Raider Open hosted by Northwestern College Friday and Saturday in Orange City, Iowa.