June 19, 2008

Tempe, Az. - Chris Hammer won two National Championships in a qualifying meet for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics last weekend. Hammer, a junior from Troy, Mich., claimed first-place finishes in both the 1500-meter and the 5000-meter events. In the 1500, Hammer defeated a multiple-time champion to win the title.

The events were run in extreme heat at Arizona State University in Tempe, Az. When Hammer ran the 5000-meter on Friday, the temperature was around 107 degrees, while it was around 100 degrees on Sunday during the 1500-meter. Hammer finished with a time of 4:13.95 in the 1500-meter, defeating multiple-time champion Abe Sauer, who finished at 4:20.94. In the 5k, Hammer finished first with a time of 16:26.21.

Due to the extreme heat and the small number of athletes chosen for the final field at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Hammer was not selected, despite his two National Championships.