WILLIAMSBURG — Gunner Hammett, a Williamsburg 12-year-old who has been making a name for himself in the running world, made history again last weekend when he broke two world records for his age group.
In Philadelphia last weekend at The Circuit, Hammett ran against high school juniors and seniors in the 800-meter event. In one race, Hammett broke the world record for the 600-meter and 800-meter. He is the first 12-year-old in history to ever break two minutes in the 800-meter with a finishing time of 1:58.22.
The record he broke was his own, set at last spring’s Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle.
“I always come into a race to try and win from the start. My goal today was to be the pacesetter. Everyone is always trying to get to that lead to stay in front. I did not know I was going that fast until I came around the mark towards the end,” Hammett said after the race.
At the end of the day, Hammett knows that his talent for running is a gift.
“I know God blesses very few people with a gift and I just feel like I was one of those people, one in a million people who got a chance to be blessed with a gift. I’m just using that gift to my advantage with track,” Hammett said.
Due to his success in Philadelphia, Hammett has been invited to compete at New Balance Indoor Nationals, a three-day meet in Boston slated for later this month.
Gunner and his family have launched an Instagram account where everyone can keep up with his accomplishments. Follow him here.