Hacker heads to Division III national championships

GHHS grad breaks PLU record in hammer by 13 feet

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Taylor Hacker has an infectious need for remaining in sports.

The Gig Harbor High School graduate is a senior this year at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and she broke the school record in the hammer throw — and has exceeded the mark three other times.

She’s currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III after a heave of 184 feet, 8 inches on March 13 during the Joe Peyton Invite. Hacker will compete Thursday in the Division III national championships in Marietta, Ohio.

Hacker — who graduated in 2005 — competed in basketball as well as the discus and shot put, but she hadn’t tried the hammer until she was a freshman at PLU.

“I thought it was really weird,” Hacker said. “I had never seen a hammer until I got to PLU.”

Kevin Eager, the Gig Harbor track and field coach, planted the idea for Hacker’s potential in the event. After all, she qualified for the district meet in the high school shot put and discus.

She discovered later that the hammer was her best event.

“It started off as an opportunity to learn about throwing,” Hacker said.

PLU track and field coach Heather Keier said Hacker was a solid recruit when she started her career, and she ended up being a complete developmental athlete.

“One of the things that brings her the most success is that she’s a hard worker,” Keier said. “She’s implemented everything she’s learning.”

Several of Hacker’s family members, including her father, had attended PLU. And since the university is relatively close to her Gig Harbor home, attending the school seemed like a smooth transition.

The hammer event, not recognized at the high school level at the state meet, combines an extreme level of physical coordination, strength and balance.

Beginning in November of her freshman year at PLU, Hacker began to train year-round, which included strength conditioning in the summer.

During her second year of throwing the hammer, Hacker began to see results. That’s when when placed 11th in the NCAA Division III national championships, and she finished ninth as a junior — one place from earning a medal and being considered an All-American.

“It keeps me focused on homework,” Hacker said about keeping sports in her life. “I can’t picture my life without sports.”

Now a senior, Hacker’s performance has exceeded her expectations. She’s been the Northwest Conference champion the previous two seasons, and she finished third in the shot put.

In her final season at PLU, she was voted the women’s track and field athlete of the year.

Hacker, who plans to graduate in the fall with a degree in sports management, has worked as the team manager for the PLU cross country and track and field teams the past two years.

“She’s been one of the best managers I’ve ever had,” Keier said.