Provided by GVSU

INDIANAPOLIS - Former Grand Valley State track and field student-athlete Chris Hammer ('09) will be representing the United States of America at the 2012 London Paralympics in the 1,500 meter run.

Hammer won the 1,500 meter event at the 2012 U.S. Track & Field Paralympic Trials recently, crossing the line in a time of 4:05.30 and winning the event by only .34 seconds over Juan Carlos Arcos (4:05.64).

The Paralympic Trials are being held at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

The 2012 Paralympics will be held from August 29th through September 9th in London, with the 1,500 meter T46 final being run on September 4th.

Currently, Hammer has the second-best 1,500 meter time in the world this year for his T46 classification. Hammer ran the event in a time of 3:58.45 on May 5th in Los Angeles, just four seconds shy of the top qualifying mark in the world this year (Samir Nouioua, Algeria, 3:54.56).

Hammer was a four-time All-American in his time at Grand Valley State, finishing in the top seven of the 3,000 meter steeplechase every year of his career at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Hammer finished in sixth in both the 2007 and 2008 championships and placed seventh in 2006 and 2009.

The official website for the 2012 London Paralympics can be seen by clicking here.