The 6-foot, 130-pound senior raced to third place at the VA Elite Invitational this past season, clocking a personal-best time of 15:21.6 as the meet’s top finisher from the District. Hackett also took 27th at the national XC Town USA Meet of Champions. As a junior, he finished second at the D.C. State Athletic Association championships and was selected First Team All-Met by the Washington Post.
Hackett has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will attend Cornell University this fall, where he will compete in cross country and track and field.
Editor of his school newspaper and co-captain of the Robotics Team, Hackett has volunteered locally on behalf of a soup kitchen and Neighbors Helping Neighbors. “Damian has been completely undaunted by what the last year has entailed,” said St. Albans coach Jim Ehrenhaft. “He has approached his training with his customary determination and focus, and has run personal bests in almost every competition in which he’s taken part.”
