June 12, 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Jake Freeman winning the NCAA Championship in the men's hammer throw competition held in Austin, Texas. His best throw went 71.12 meters—still the program record—which vaulted Freeman past the rest of the field and clinched his second national title after also winning the 2003 indoor weight throw.
Freeman's historic throw also gave him the NCAA D1 record at the time until it was eventually broken. Freeman accomplished his new benchmark after fouling his first two attempts in the championship round, never wavering in the pursuit of his ultimate goal. That moment set the foundation for a multitude of other later successes in competition for the East Greenwich, Rhode Island native—including finishing third in the hammer throw at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials and representing the United States in 2009 at the World Championships.
"I came through under pressure," Freeman says 20 years later.
That famous day lives on as a snapshot in Freeman's mind. Everything played into his favor that day, and not even the hot Texas sun stood a chance against Manhattan's behemoth. To Freeman, it still feels like yesterday.
"Time really flies by especially when you get busy with family,' says Freeman, who has three kids with his wife, Jamie Yedowitz, a member of the Class of 2003 who competed in both the 800 meters and cross country for the Jaspers.
Life as a father has reaped new rewards for Freeman now. He is currently busy training his daughter who plans to start throwing next year in high school.
"She's really happy doing it so it makes me and my wife very proud," Freeman said. "We were both track athletes so she (Jamie) is excited to have another thrower in the family."
Even 20 years after one of his greatest accomplishments, Freeman carries a humility to him that was born from many years of hard work at Manhattan College. Despite all of the aches and pains of competing, the institution as well as his training grounds at Van Cortlandt Park will always hold a special place in his heart.
"Manhattan College and the track and field program gave you everything they could," Freeman said. "Even after I was done throwing, they let me train there for at least another decade which was really awesome. Some schools, once you've graduated don't allow you to come back to use the athletic facilities. Manhattan did and I am very appreciative of that."
