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The conversation got him thinking. After college, Hammer joined the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field Team, where he was able to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the 1,500-meters and the marathon. In 2013, he decided to try out a new sport: triathlon. Despite not having a training background in swimming or biking, two of the three elements of a triathlon race, he felt his longdistance running success would translate. Since then, he has no regrets in his decision to branch out into triathlon. Competing on the USA Paratriathlon National Team, Hammer was a bronze medalist at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in 2014, 2017 and 2019. He also competed as a Paralympian in the last two Olympics, held in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, and has 21 ITU Paratriathlon international event podium finishes in 29 total races (including nine first-place finishes). “I have met amazing people and developed life-long friendships,” Hammer explained. “It has granted me knowledge and experiences that make me a better coach.” Hammer guided the Senators to an excellent 2019 season, which saw Natalia Hidalgo
Volleyball Shows Steady Progress in Willis’ First Season David & Elkins had an exciting 2020-21 season under first-year head coach Jordan Willis, going 9-3 overall in a condensed campaign with an undefeated home record. Davis & Elkins, which ended the season one game shy of the conference championship game, received two First Team All-MEC selections and added another to the Second Team. Juniors Macie Magallon and Brilane Manchego were named First Team AllMEC selections and sophomore Molly Jandris landed on the Second Team for the Senators.
Martinez capture the individual Division II crown at the National Championships and finish third overall among all competitors, on his way to the USA Triathlon NCAA DII Coach of the Year award. This year, Hammer trained for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a feat he would have never considered 15 years ago, especially while holding a full-time coaching job. “There is just never enough time in the day to get to everything I want done,” Hammer said. “It’s important to me that my family and my D&E athletes always come first. I get in the training that I can, but I always feel like I should be doing more. “I think being a coach is very helpful in my preparation for Tokyo … it is so refreshing and motivating to be around young student-athletes daily,” Hammer said. “They keep me grounded and make me smile on a daily basis.” Outside of his family and student-athletes, Hammer’s personal coach, Wes Johnson, is his biggest influence in the sport of triathlon.
Sports Briefs
Six of the Senators nine wins came via sweep, including the regular season finale and MEC Quarterfinal round against nearby West Virginia Wesleyan. Magallon ranked ninth nationally in kills/set (4.52) and points/set (5.06) while Manchego was 26th in DII with 10.24 assists/set.
Arnaud Earns National Runner of the Week Twice for D&E Cross Country Davis & Elkins sophomore Emeric Arnaud earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Runner of the Week honors twice this season. Arnaud captured the individual crown the Mountain East Conference (MEC) XC Championships in Wheeling, cruising through the 8K course in 25:51.87 while helping the Davis & Elkins men’s team to a runner-up finish.
Chris Hammer competes in the 2012 Paralympics in Rio.
“He is one of the most dedicated coaches I have ever met. He is also a friend and a mentor,” Hammer explained. “His coaching of me has a direct impact on my coaching of the D&E triathletes, as major parts of his coaching philosophy and training periodization preferences have become my own.” Davis & Elkins competed in an abbreviated 2021 season this spring, heading to Florida for a pair of races before wrapping up the year in North Carolina.
Arnaud, who was named the National Runner of the Week following the season opener, became the first men’s cross country conference champion since 1993. The native of Annecy Le Vieux, France, picked up MEC Runner of the Year accolades and capped the brief spring cross country season with first-place showings in both races on March 5 and March 20.
Blood Named NCATA Specialist of the Week Davis & Elkins senior Deanna Blood was named the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association’s specialist of the week following the season-opening competition against Glenville
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