BISMARCK, N.D. – With the outdoor track and field season now in full swing, international student-athlete Gideon Hammah is making a name for himself in the midst of his freshman season.

After earning 2nd team all-conference honors during the cross country season, breaking the school record for the mile during indoor track season, and being named one of the Marauders athletes to watch ahead of the outdoor season, Hammah has certainly made a mark on the UMary team.

"There's more in me, and I need to put that out there," said Hammah.

However, when the Ghana native was younger, he never thought he would be running track for a university in the United States. In fact, he didn't start running until he was 17 years old, switching to the sport after playing soccer for years in school.

It was the relay races he took part in that put him on the path he's on now. He had to be convinced that he had a talent for running, and it was because of his teachers that he was able to discover it for himself.

Hammah knew he couldn't stay in his country if he wanted to reach his full potential, so he started reaching out to schools. That's when he connected with UMary. He felt like the Marauders were a perfect fit, allowing him to grow academically in addition to athletics.

He is now a member of the UMary cross country/track and field teams, already making a name for himself in his first season.

Hammah points to his coaching staff and teammates as his rock and support on his way to success.

"Without [them] I don't think this would have been possible," said Hammah. "I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."

His teammates and coaches were there for him every step of the way through his arrival to the country and an injury in December, which prevented him from competing in a handful of meets during the indoor season. It was the kindness and motivation from those closest to him that pushed him back to the sport and closer to the school record.

"To be able to come back and have these amazing teammates of mine cheer me on, it was amazing," Hammah said. "I was really glad to have all of them around to make it possible."

His record-breaking performance during the indoor season was only the start. Hammah is now pushing his ultimate goal, competing at the national level and eventually beginning a career as a professional athlete.

"I think this is a really good start, but I'm using it as motivation," said Hammah. "I need to keep working more and working harder because my goal is not only a school record. It's to make progress and make sure that at the end of the season, I'll be able to put UMary and myself on the [podium] so people can see the amazing program we have."

His main focus is to improve each and every day moving forward, and after the first weekend of the outdoor season, Hammah is already making strides towards his ultimate goal.

He took home first place in the 800 meter run at the Marauders Outdoor Opener. Hammah went on to set the school record in the 1500 meter run at the Chuck Haering Classic, breaking a mark that had stood since 2012.

"I have another major task ahead of me," he said. "I just want to take it each and every day to make progress."

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