EUGENE, Oregon – Senior Logan Hammer concluded his illustrious Utah State track and field career as the national runner-up in the pole vault on Day 1 of the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Hammer, a native of Nampa, Idaho, broke his own school record by clearing 18 feet, 10.25 inches (5.75m) on his first attempt to earn first-team All-American honors. Hammer is only the sixth Aggie man or woman in program history to become a five-time All-American.
Hammer's finish is the best by an Aggie since James Parker was the national runner-up in the hammer in 2001 and Corey Murdock, who was the national runner-up in the 400m hurdles in 1999. USU's last national champion was Mark Enyeart in the 800 meters in 1977.
"It was a really special day for him and for (coach) Erik (Rasmussen) and for his family," said Artie Gulden, USU's director of track & field and cross country. "Yeah, to vault higher than you've ever vaulted at the NCAA championships is a special thing. Not only did he break his own school record, but he broke his own Mountain West record as well. He put himself in great position and his jumps at 5.70 (meters) and 5.75 were fantastic. I think his jump at 5.75 was his best vault I've ever seen and may have been his best vault he's ever done, and so to be able to do that at the NCAA championships is a very, very special thing and something that I hope he never forgets. I know I'll never forget it."
Utah State juniors Landon Bott and Walker Deede also competed on Wednesday and earned second-team All-American honors in the 800 meters and javelin, respectively. Bott, a North Salt Lake City, Utah, native placed 12th in his heat with a time of 1:46.53, while Deede, a native of Springville, Utah, placed 16th with a throw of 228-4 (69.60m).
"Landon, I was very proud of how he executed his race," Gulden said. "One of the things I talked to him about was go run 52 seconds for the first lap and be disciplined wherever that puts you. Whether you're in the back, whether you're in the front, go run 52 seconds because we know that you can do that. He was very disciplined and then worked up well the third 200 (meters). He just didn't have one last gear the last 100, but he ran his second-best time ever, and so great performance, especially for his first time (at outdoor nationals)."
"Walker's first two throws were not great, but then he put it together for the third throw and got close to 70 meters," Gulden said. "To overcome those first two throws and the disappointment of those two throws and battle back and throw very well on that third throw, getting fourth in his flight to me just showed what a great competitor he is."
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