Pioneer student-athlete headed to 2011 World Inline Speed Skating Championships
Nastassia Hamor.
- August 26, 2011
Though she has spent the last two seasons running cross country and track for Cal State East Bay, junior Nastassia Hamor may be better on eight wheels than she is on two feet. Last week, the Milpitas native was selected to join the Inline Speed Skating National Team and will represent the United States at the 2011 World Championships being held in Yeosu, Korea from Aug. 30-Sept. 5.
“It is an extraordinary accomplishment for Nastassia to participate in international competition and qualify for such an important race,” Head Coach Ralph Jones said. “It is truly an honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent your country and I know this is a goal Nastassia has been working toward for years.”
Hamor will compete on the senior team, as one of six U.S. World Class Women after racing at U.S. Championships in July. The event in Yeosu will span one week and features 112 countries from across the globe. Both junior and senior team athletes will compete in individual events ranging in distance from a 500-meter sprint to a 20,000-meter distance race and the team 5,000-meter relay races.
“It is an honor for us whenever one of our student-athletes excels on any level and to have Nastassia represent us on the U.S. Inline Team is quite a privilege,” Director of Athletics Debby De Angelis said. “We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her return to campus, not only to rejoin the team on the trails, but also to share her experiences with her fellow student-athletes and the university.”
Hamor was previously a member of the 2005 U.S. Junior Team and the 2009 Senior Team, competing at seven indoor and six outdoor national championships, as well as a pair of World Championships. A member of the Milpitas Speed Team, which calls the Cal Skate Milpitas rink its home, Hamor has been participating in the sport for 15 years.
At National Championships in Fort Wayne, Ind., in July, Hamor finished sixth in the 1,000 and took 12th in both the 5,000 and 100-meter time trial. In her last trip to World Championships with the senior team in 2009, Hamor finished 23rd in the 15,000.
Hamor has been a staple in the Pioneer cross country and track lineup for the past two seasons, helping the team to three top-three finishes in the fall. As a sophomore, Hamor posted her best 5k time of the cross country season with a 20:37.3 at the Bronco Invitational, helping the Pioneers take third overall in a field of 20 teams that included four Division I programs. In addition to her success on the trails and at the rink, Hamor has also collected a pair of CCAA All-Academic honors at Cal State East Bay.
“To reach this level of any endeavor really speaks to her hard work, determination, and perseverance,” Jones said. “The cross country team and East Bay family wish her all the best and can't wait for her to return and join us for the season.”
Cal State East Bay cross country is set to begin its first season under Jones at the Notre Dame de Namur Battle of the Bay on Sept. 3 at Crystal Springs in Belmont.