Hamlin took his first jumps in seventh grade but did not actively start competing until his eighth grade year when he was at Holy Name School in Escanaba.

“I remember the meet in Bark River,” Hamlin said. “I used to go off my right side with my left leg and then switched halfway through the season and ended up breaking the record.”

Hamlin broke the record at Holy Name at the Escanaba Junior High Invitational with a jump of 5′ 7″ on May 14, 2024.

Hamlin also came in 11th in the U.P. Finals in 2024 with a jump of 5′ 4″ in Kingsford and was one of only two eighth-graders to compete at the U.P. Finals along with Lewis Holmes from Mid Peninsula.

Escanaba sophomore Andrew Hamlin competes in the long jump on May 5, 2026 at Manistique High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

“I knew Andrew since he was in fourth grade,” Holy Name Athletic Director Tony Derkos said. “He is a great kid, and track really gives him a chance to be his own athlete.”

Hamlin switched to Escanaba High School for his freshman season and had a jump of 6′ 0″ at the Division 1 regional in Escanaba on May 16, 2025 and then came through with a jump of 6′ 2″ at the U.P. Finals in Kingsford, where he was one of only two freshmen to place in the top 10. The other one was Will Inghram of Gladstone with a jump of 5′ 4″ to put him ninth.

“I really enjoy the competitiveness of the sport,” Hamlin said. “It definitely helps to fuel you as an athlete to improve every time out.”

Hamlin also has a personal coach, Hugo Munoz, who was a member of the Peru National Team and competed in the 1996 and 2000 summer olympics.

Hamlin has competed in two high jump camps, one in Wisconsin and most recently one in New Prague, Minn.

Escanaba sophomore Andrew Hamlin breaks his own record on a jump of 6' 7" on May 1, 2026 at Escanaba High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

Now as a sophomore, he broke the high jump record for Escanaba High School with a jump of 6′ 6″ on April 21, 2026 at the Delta County Invite in Gladstone, a record that has been held since 1978 held by Keenan Failing.

“It meant a lot to get the record,” Hamlin said. “It was one of the goals for the season coming in, and I was just kind of surprised that it happened this early in the season.”

The record lasted for 10 days until the Escanaba Invitational on May 1, 2026, when Hamlin completed a jump of 6′ 7″ to break his own record.

“I have to adjust my goals for the season,” Hamlin said. “I never thought I would hit this high of a height this early in the season, so now I’m just trying to stay consistent and improve my height when I can.”

Hamlin will also be taking part in the Nike Nationals for the high jump this summer as well as some other high jump events over the course of the summer.

Hamlin also competes in the long jump, 400 meter and 4×400 relay events as well as playing football in the fall and basketball in the winter.

“He’s everything you want in an athlete,” Eskymos track coach Scott Dykema said. “He is a good competitor and is always working on his game and what he can do to improve every time he goes out.”

Hamlin has also overcome various injuries but still works and rehabs to get back in action as soon as he can.

“He never lets injuries keep him down,” Derkos said. “He is a tough kid and battles through injuries, and that is the sign of a natural competitor — which is what he is.”

Hamlin has aspirations of taking the high jump to the collegiate level and also said that he enjoys running and competes in 5k races. He said that running a marathon at some point is something he would enjoy doing.

“I think it would be fun to run a marathon,” Hamlin said. “That would come after college, as there is so much time and training that goes into preparing for a marathon, but definitely something I would have interest in down the road.”

Hamlin has four track meets left in the 2026 season as Escanaba will compete in Negaunee on May 8, Manistique on May 13 for the Division 1 regional meet as well as meets at Gladstone and Gaylord before competing in the U.P. Finals on May 30 in Kingsford.