Greta Hammer, Needham High School's standout distance runner with state titles across three seasons, will compete for Harvard University's track and cross-country program this fall as part of the Crimson's Class of 2030.

Hammer has personal bests of 4:44.45 in the 1600 meters and 10:17.00 in the 3200 meters. She joins 25 other recruits from 13 states and eight countries in the NCAA Division I program in Cambridge.

Hammer's most recent title came on June 4 when she crossed the finish line first in the girls two-mile at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Meet of Champions at Duane Stadium at Merrimack College, per MetroWest Daily News coverage. It was the latest in a string of championships that began her junior year.

"This is such a dream come true and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing friends and family supporting me," Hammer posted on Instagram when she signed her commitment to Harvard. "Thanks to Coach Gibby as well for giving me this opportunity and a HUGE thank you to Coach Sue- I could not have asked for a better Coach.
Go Crimson!!"

In fall 2024, Hammer won the MIAA Girls Cross Country Meet of Champions with a time of 18:02.5. She also led Needham to the Division 1A team championship that season, winning the sectional race in 18:13.91, according to MIAA results.

Indoors, she took the two-mile at the MIAA Meet of Champions on Saturday, February 22, 2025, clocking 10:21.48 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. She followed that with the MIAA Division 1 outdoor state two-mile title in spring 2025, running 10:36.47, according to the Needham Observer.

Her senior cross-country season brought two second-place finishes behind Westford Academy's Abigail Hennessy. At the Division 1A sectional on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Hammer ran 17:40.4. A week later at the state championships on Saturday, November 15, she clocked 17:56.65 to Hennessy's 17:15.13.

Hammer signed her commitment to Harvard in November 2025, according to MileSplit, listing her event specialty as distance.