EUGENE, Ore. – Presented with the opportunity to carry on a proud hammer tradition for California track & field at Hayward Field, it took Rowan Hamilton just three throws to find himself in a position that no Golden Bear has in over a century.
 
Before Wednesday, the last Cal athlete to win a title in the men's hammer was Jack Merchant in 1922. Now, that distinction belongs to Hamilton, whose personal-best throw of 77.18m (253-2) surpassed 2023 champion Kenneth Ikeji of Harvard's top mark by just two inches; he also became the program's first NCAA men's champion in any event since 2011 (Mike Morrison, decathlon).
 
"Those are things that people take for granted, but that's hard to do, to keep stepping up when somebody else steps up," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson.
 
Hamilton, who hails from Chilliwack, B.C., is also the first Canadian man to win the event since Scott Neilson in 1979. He was the favorite to win after leading the NCAA standings for nearly the entire season and climbing to No. 8 in the all-time men's collegiate hammer standings.
 
"Rowan was really stable today," assistant coach Mohamad Saatara said. "That's what we were trying to do – we were expecting these other guys to really get going, so for him to succeed, he had to be very stable and just execute. I think there are some really big throws in his future."
 
"I think it's really special, just being able to carry on the legacy at Cal that was set by (women's hammer alum) Camryn Rogers, (who won) three consecutive national championships," Hamilton said. "I'm happy that I can come here, compete with Mo, the Cal Bears, and represent the school very well."
 
Teammate Ivar Moisander joined Hamilton in the men's hammer as the other half of Cal's first-ever duo in the event. Moisander's mark of 68.13m (223-6), while not enough to earn him another three attempts, still earned him a second-career Second-Team All-America nod and his highest career placement (13th) at the NCAA Championships.
 
The 4x100m relay squad of Chase Williams, George Monroe, Mason Mangum and David Foster followed up Hamilton's school record with one of their own, racing to a time of 38.90 in the semifinal to demolish the program's previous best of 39.11 that had stood since 1975 – old enough that the time itself had been adjusted from a 4x110y result. It was good enough for 12th place overall, earning Williams, Monroe and Mangum their first career Second-Team All-America honors and Foster his second. Foster then competed in the 100m semifinal just over an hour later, finishing third in his heat and 14th overall with a time of 10.28 to become a Second-Team All-American for the third time this season.
 
In the pole vault, Skyler Magula passed on the first two heights before clearing his first attempt at 5.37m (17-7.25), eventually matching his season best of 5.52m (18-1.25) to tie for sixth with Penn's James Rhoads and earn First-Team All-America status. It was the best overall finish by any Cal men's pole vaulter since Robert "Bubba" McLean in 2001, who was also the last to make the First Team (2002).
 
Jeff Duensing, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials at the Pac-12 Championships, closed out the night – and the Cal Athletics season – in the shot put, posting a mark of 18.99m (62-3.75) on his third attempt to finish in 13th place and notch a spot on the All-America Second Team; he became the first Cal men's shot putter to repeat as an All-American since Peter Simon in 2017-18.
 
In total, Cal's men collected nine All-America honors, tying a program record from 1982.
 
"I am so, so proud of this group," Johnson said. "They worked hard all year and they did what they needed to do at the right time."
 
NCAA Outdoor Championships – Wednesday Results
Men's 100m Semifinal – 14. David Foster 10.28
Men's 4x100m Relay Semifinal – 12. California 38.90 (Chase Williams, George Monroe, Mason Mangum, David Foster – School Record)
Men's Pole Vault – T6. Skyler Magula 5.52m/18-1.25
Men's Shot Put – 13. Jeff Duensing 18.99m/62-3.75
Men's Hammer – 1. Rowan Hamilton 77.18m/253-2 (PR, No. 8 Collegiate History, School Record); 13. Ivar Moisander 68.13m/223-6
 
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