Colorado State University Athletics
Wednesday, June 9
Eugene, Ore.
Colorado State
vs
NCAA Championships
All-American Performance Plus Some for Eric Hamer at NCAAs
6/9/2021 11:06:00 PM | Track & Field
Graduate Student Earns First Team All-America honors with top-eight finish in 10K
EUGENE, Ore. – Checking the boxes of his career and adding another trophy to the collection was Eric Hamer with his 10,000-meter performance Wednesday evening at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The placement, fifth, secured Hamer, of Monument, Colo., USTFCAAA First Team All-America honors – awarded to the top-8 placers in the 24-runner field.
The time, 27:44.87, reestablished his own school record by an eye-opening 24.08 seconds, but more importantly it set him up to compete on an even bigger stage than nationals. The U.S. Olympic Trials standard is 28 minutes flat, which he cruised under as well, punching his ticket to return to Hayward Field in two weeks to try to receive a jersey with the American flag on it.
Hamer, a graduate student, marked the second-best placement ever by a Ram in the 10,000m behind Terry Harrison's runner-up finish (29:56.8) in 1968, however Hamer's time is almost two minutes faster. He is the first Ram to earn First-Team All-America accolades in the 10K since USTFCCCA started distinguishing first and second team in 2011. Overall, he is the fifth Ram All-American in the event and the sixth overall honor.
In less than 48 hours, Hamer will be back at it, competing in the 5K at 7:55 p.m. MT on Friday. Adam Dawson will start the action for the Rams in the discus at 5:35 p.m.
Student-Athlete's Perspective
Graduate Eric Hamer
On the race…
"That happened. That's just kind of the vibe. It was a great balance of speed and competition. I don't think I've ever run a race like that, which was that fast and that close together. The only tactics was covering that gap whenever that occurred and going full throttle. It was a lot of joy and realism of knowing this was exactly where I was supposed to be and just going out there and doing my thing. With a mile to go I was in it with some guys chasing me and a small gap ahead. I had to remind myself and trust myself that I did everything I thought I could do. Part of being an athlete is having a healthy sense of what you did and being content with your performance. And I really am as it has been an amazing year and I can say that I've gotten everything I ever wanted."
On emotions afterwards…
"It was a little bit of disbelief when you see the time, but also part of you believed that it could happen. I signed up for the Olympic trails yesterday, which was the last day to do it. I'm glad I did, because you never know when it could happen."
Coach's Corner
Head distance coach Art Siemers
On the race…
"He followed the race plan exactly how we had it laid out. His goal was to stay with the lead pack as long as he could and put himself in the position to go for a high finish. He was in it all the way to the last kick. It was an unprecedented NCAA field as about 10 student-athletes beat the previous national record. We knew for him to be a First Team All-American, he would have to run his best race and he did, crushing his PR just like he did in the NCAA indoor. We couldn't be more proud of him."
On message to Hamer…
"That it has been a pleasure to coach him throughout his career. He is such a hard worker and a blessing to have a guy that faced adversity early in his career but overcame it to finish on such a high note. He will be surely missed, but he has set a great example for our young team."
On thoughts for Friday…
"He has done this tough double at conference and at regionals, so he has experience with his recovery and preparation. Most of it at this point is mental though. It is one more race in his collegiate career and I know he wants to go out on a high note, racing like he has been all career which is with a lot of guts and determination."
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 FINAL RESULTS
For complete results see link at top of recap
(PR)- Personal Best
Men's 10,000m FINAL
5. Eric Hamer, 27:44.87; PR, 1st in CSU History
How to Follow
Headquarters – https://www.ncaa.com/championships/trackfield-outdoor/d1
Live Results - https://csura.ms/2THTbIS
Live Stream (ESPN 3) Day 3 (Dawson Discus) – https://csura.ms/3w4j0kF
Live Stream (ESPN 2) Day 3 (Hamer 5K) - https://csura.ms/3w7c3PM
Live Stream (ESPN 3) Day 4 (Muzzio Discus) - https://csura.ms/2RClMyM
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE for the Rams
Friday, June 11th (MEN)
5:35 p.m. MT | Discus Final: Adam Dawson
Saturday, June 12th (WOMEN)
3:35 p.m. MT | Discus Final: Maria Muzzio
For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
The placement, fifth, secured Hamer, of Monument, Colo., USTFCAAA First Team All-America honors – awarded to the top-8 placers in the 24-runner field.
The time, 27:44.87, reestablished his own school record by an eye-opening 24.08 seconds, but more importantly it set him up to compete on an even bigger stage than nationals. The U.S. Olympic Trials standard is 28 minutes flat, which he cruised under as well, punching his ticket to return to Hayward Field in two weeks to try to receive a jersey with the American flag on it.
Hamer, a graduate student, marked the second-best placement ever by a Ram in the 10,000m behind Terry Harrison's runner-up finish (29:56.8) in 1968, however Hamer's time is almost two minutes faster. He is the first Ram to earn First-Team All-America accolades in the 10K since USTFCCCA started distinguishing first and second team in 2011. Overall, he is the fifth Ram All-American in the event and the sixth overall honor.
In less than 48 hours, Hamer will be back at it, competing in the 5K at 7:55 p.m. MT on Friday. Adam Dawson will start the action for the Rams in the discus at 5:35 p.m.
Student-Athlete's Perspective
Graduate Eric Hamer
On the race…
"That happened. That's just kind of the vibe. It was a great balance of speed and competition. I don't think I've ever run a race like that, which was that fast and that close together. The only tactics was covering that gap whenever that occurred and going full throttle. It was a lot of joy and realism of knowing this was exactly where I was supposed to be and just going out there and doing my thing. With a mile to go I was in it with some guys chasing me and a small gap ahead. I had to remind myself and trust myself that I did everything I thought I could do. Part of being an athlete is having a healthy sense of what you did and being content with your performance. And I really am as it has been an amazing year and I can say that I've gotten everything I ever wanted."
On emotions afterwards…
"It was a little bit of disbelief when you see the time, but also part of you believed that it could happen. I signed up for the Olympic trails yesterday, which was the last day to do it. I'm glad I did, because you never know when it could happen."
Coach's Corner
Head distance coach Art Siemers
On the race…
"He followed the race plan exactly how we had it laid out. His goal was to stay with the lead pack as long as he could and put himself in the position to go for a high finish. He was in it all the way to the last kick. It was an unprecedented NCAA field as about 10 student-athletes beat the previous national record. We knew for him to be a First Team All-American, he would have to run his best race and he did, crushing his PR just like he did in the NCAA indoor. We couldn't be more proud of him."
On message to Hamer…
"That it has been a pleasure to coach him throughout his career. He is such a hard worker and a blessing to have a guy that faced adversity early in his career but overcame it to finish on such a high note. He will be surely missed, but he has set a great example for our young team."
On thoughts for Friday…
"He has done this tough double at conference and at regionals, so he has experience with his recovery and preparation. Most of it at this point is mental though. It is one more race in his collegiate career and I know he wants to go out on a high note, racing like he has been all career which is with a lot of guts and determination."
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 FINAL RESULTS
For complete results see link at top of recap
(PR)- Personal Best
Men's 10,000m FINAL
5. Eric Hamer, 27:44.87; PR, 1st in CSU History
How to Follow
Headquarters – https://www.ncaa.com/championships/trackfield-outdoor/d1
Live Results - https://csura.ms/2THTbIS
Live Stream (ESPN 3) Day 3 (Dawson Discus) – https://csura.ms/3w4j0kF
Live Stream (ESPN 2) Day 3 (Hamer 5K) - https://csura.ms/3w7c3PM
Live Stream (ESPN 3) Day 4 (Muzzio Discus) - https://csura.ms/2RClMyM
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE for the Rams
Friday, June 11th (MEN)
5:35 p.m. MT | Discus Final: Adam Dawson
- Two seeded flights. Advance best 9 to finals.
- One round. Two heats.
Saturday, June 12th (WOMEN)
3:35 p.m. MT | Discus Final: Maria Muzzio
- Two seeded flights. Advance best 9 to finals.
For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
Players Mentioned
Mya Lesnar - 2025 Outdoor Shot Put National Champion
Friday, June 20
CSU T&F: Mya Lesnar Post NCAA Nationals
Friday, June 13
CSU T&F: Kajsa Borrman Post NCAA Nationals
Thursday, June 12
CSU T&F Pre-Nationals Press Conference: Brian Bedard
Thursday, June 05