Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Springfield’s Matt Wymer competes in the Division V boys 400-meter dash during the state track championships in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Matthew Wymer embraced the opportunity at hand when it came time to the 400-meter dash.

It’s one of the sport’s toughest events. A full lap around the track requires endurance, speed, patience and an ability to kick down the backstretch. After earning a silver medal for the Tigers last June in the 4×400 relay, Wymer concluded his high school track career with a fifth-place finish during the Division V meet at 49.97 seconds.

He was ready following his previous trip to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

“It definitely made me hungry to come out here and want to be on that podium as an individual.” Wymer said. “I want to thank that team from last year, Aiden, Isaac and Michael Tuscano, who’s a sophomore this year. Me and Michael really pushed each other this year in practice.

“We found each other every day at practice this year pushing each other.”

Wymer said it takes a certain mindset to participate in the 400.

“I think it’s one of the tougher races. One thing that I found out this year is that it’s a lot more mental than it is physical,” Wymer said. You really gotta want it, and want to do it and finish hard. You got to want to cut out fast. If you come out slow then you can finish fast but have nothing to show for it,” Wymer said. “It’s got to be a full sprint the whole lap, it’s a whole game.

“I remember coming out in my seventh-grade year and I wanted to quit the first practice because I saw how long 100 meters was. I was like, there’s no way I’m doing that, and here I am today. It’s my favorite sport. I’m going to run in college. I love it.”

For Wymer, the physical and mental trials of running taught him a slew of lessons.

“Consistency. I think consistency is a really big part of track, it’s a big part of sports, especially in something so intricate like track. Consistency is a really big thing that you have to harp on a lot with yourself. I really do just think it’s the mindset.” Wymer said.

Also running at the state meet for the Tigers was the 4×200 team of Alex Caldwell, Marco Gentile, Tuscano and Wymer that placed 15th in the prelims with 1:33.56, and the 4×400 squad of Steven Morlan, Brody Sanders, Tuscano and Wymer that was 14th in the prelims with a time of 3:29.34.

A new set of challenges are in-store for Wymer when he joins Mount Union this fall, but Wymer took the chance to reflect on his time in the Springfield’s orange and black as a member of the football and basketball teams.

“I love it. A lot of people called me crazy for doing three sports all four years. It is a little crazy when you say it, but it makes high school a lot more fun,” Wymer said. “You make a lot more friendships. You feel a lot better about yourself whenever you’re competing and doing well. You physically feel well, you mentally feel well, it’s really nice to go all year around.”