College track and field: Medina alum Jake Wickey runner-up at indoor championships

Kent State redshirt senior Jake Wickey felt right at home standing on the second step of the podium at the NCAA Division I National Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala. Sure, winning a national championship would have been great, but Wickey was happy earning a second All-America award and improving on last year's eighth-place finish. On top of his personal performance, the Medina alumnus was just as excited to see his longtime friend and throwing partner, Bobby Colantonio Jr. of Alabama, win a national championship. "It felt good to be up there with Bobby," Wickey said in a phone interview. "I can say that I ended my collegiate indoor career on just about the highest note that somebody could end on. I'm really proud of myself." Understanding Colantonio's backstory makes it easy to understand why Wickey was so pleased with watching his buddy stand tall with a throw of 77 feet, 5¾ inches on his final attempt to top Wickey's 75-8¼. In 2016, Colantonio was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and given a 20% chance at survival. If he did survive, Colantonio was told his leg would likely need to be amputated and he would never throw again. Less than six years later, Colantonio defied the odds to win a national championship. "His success story is just awesome," Wickey said. "After the meet I told him, 'You know what, Bob? If I'm going to lose to somebody, I'm so glad that it's you.' He's had a long, hard battle and he stepped up to the plate and won. I'm really happy for him." Sitting in ninth place, Wickey was on the verge of missing the podium entirely going into his third throw, where the field of 16 competitors would be cut to nine for the final three attempts. He stepped up with a toss 73-4¾ to vault into third. "When it's your turn to throw, they put your name and what place you are in on the big board," he said. "I didn't think I was in the top nine, so when I was walking into the cage, I closed my eyes so I wouldn't see what place I was in. I told myself, 'It doesn't matter what place I'm in. I just need to throw further.'" Wickey went on to have his best throw of the meet on his fifth attempt to get into second. "I was set up to peak at the end of the season," he said. "At the beginning of the season, my throws were still good, but throughout the season my distances got further, which had me feeling pretty good." The runner-up finish was the best result by a Kent State thrower in the event since Jacques Accambray won his second national championship in 1974. "We are extremely proud of Jake and all of his accomplishments," Kent State director of track and field and cross country Bill Lawson said in a statement. "Representing Kent State University on the biggest stage of his athletic career is priceless. It is simply a great moment for Jake and Kent State University." While the stage of a national championship is certainly large, Wickey felt right at home after earning his first All-America honor last season. That experience, paired with winning three national championships while in high school, had him comfortable and ready to go to work. "I told my (throws) coach (Nathan Fanger) it felt like almost just another meet," he said. "I've had some opportunities to compete at some pretty big meets. I've had a lot of experience on those bigger stages. It's the national meet, so it's exciting, but it felt almost like it was another meet." The second-place finish at his last collegiate indoor meet concluded a journey to the upper echelon of throwers in the nation. It was a path that was not easy and at times left Wickey doubting if he could get there. While he won Mid-American Conference championships his first two years, Wickey got lost in the national scene with throws of 66 to 68 feet to win those championships. "In high school, me and a bunch of my buddies, all from this area, were the big weight throw guys in the country," Wickey said. "Everybody went to college and was doing so well. I felt like I was being left behind, like I was the dud of all the friends that didn't continue to excel. I was pretty hard on myself those years." Wickey kept the faith and continued to work at his craft, and his first All-America award let him know he was finally on the right track. The past two seasons he began hitting 73 feet and then almost 76 feet this year. "Last year to be good enough to make it to the national meet, score points at that meet and earn a trophy at that meet was a wake-up call that I'm good enough," he said. "Last year was a reminder that I was capable of being better than I had been and capable of continuing to get better." As Wickey prepares for his final outdoor season, which begins March 24 at North Carolina State's Raleigh Relays, he's confident his success, along with a switch to three-turns in both the weight and hammer throws, will translate to the same type of results. "I think it's going to help me for the outdoor season," he said. "I'm feeling confident after finishing runner-up at the national meet. I know it will transfer from the weight throw to the hammer, since I was able to do three turns in each." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.