Eric Hacker

Early life and education Hacker was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Chillicothe, Ohio. The Chillicothe Gazette described him as “one of the top runners in the area” despite the physical challenges of CP.

Hacker graduated from Unioto High School in 2020, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and an honor-roll student.

High school career At Unioto High School, Hacker qualified 14 times for the OHSAA State Championships in cross-country and track and won multiple conference titles.

He was also a multiple-time Academic All-Ohio honoree and recipient of the 2020 Archie Griffin Award recognizing athletic and academic excellence.

Collegiate career Hacker competed for Shawnee State University in cross-country and distance track events.

His athletic achievements and advocacy for adaptive sports have been profiled in national and regional media, including Runner’s World and the USA TODAY Network.

Personal life Hacker resides in Columbus, Ohio, and continues to train and compete in distance running and para-athletics.

Major championships and personal bests 2019 Adaptive Sports USA Junior Nationals — U20/T38 1500 m: 4:28.99 (1st) ATFUSA junior T38 record (1500 m — 4:29.0; 2019) High-school personal bests (outdoor): 800 m — 2:10.21; 1600 m — 4:41.15; 3200 m — 9:55.43