Eric Hamer was gearing up for the NCAA Indoor Championships around this time last year when the pandemic struck.

Hamer had done his pre-race run but the meet was then canceled.

Hamer, a sixth-year senior, is now gearing for the Division I NCAA Indoor Track championship being held March 11-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

"This is the big one," said Hamer, who owns the CSU record in the indoor 5,000 meters for a time of 13:37.73.

Hamer's past accomplishments include being name named an all-American in cross country (2018) and indoor track (2020). Hamer was also the Mountain West Conference Indoor Student-Athlete of the Year in 2020.

Hamer grew up in Monument, Colorado, where the school track was at a 7,000 feet elevation. He attributes this training for helping set up his college career.

Hamer sat down for a Ram Jam interview on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. He chatted about his running career and his 2003 Honda Civic, named "VIC" — because the "C" and the "I" fell off.

 

Ram Jampresented by Bank of Colorado, is a new weekly magazine show that gives you exclusive access to everything CSU sports. The 30-minute shows airs at 7 p.m. every Wednesday on Townsquare Media's Power 102.9, Home of the Rams.

PHOTOS: Eric Hamer

PHOTOS: Lou Regen

More From 94.3 The X