Snow Canyon javelin champion Bo Hickman signs to compete at BYU

ST. GEORGE — Bo Hickman, Snow Canyon High’s standout javelin thrower, has chosen to attend Brigham Young University.

Snow Canyon’s Bo Hickman holds 4A boys first-place trophy after UHSAA state track meet, Provo, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Hickman, 18, signed his letter of intent on Wednesday, the day before Snow Canyon High School’s graduation. 

Although other universities and colleges both in and out of state had also expressed interest, Hickman told St. George News that BYU had always been at the top of his list, with his father Matt Hickman having also thrown javelin for BYU in the early 2000s.

“They already have a really good track record, especially in getting good throwers out there,” Hickman said of the Cougars, mentioning BYU’s Cameron Bates, who continues to be one of the top javelin throwers in the nation, and Ashton Riner of the BYU women’s team, who won the javelin throw at the NCAA national championships last year.

“They have a really, really good program,” Hickman told St. George News via phone on Wednesday. “The coaches really set you up for success and that’s what I was looking for. I mean, they’re a top 10 track team overall. You’re really going to have to compete to earn a spot there.”

Snow Canyon senior Bo Hickman, surrounded by family members, signed a letter of intent to throw javelin at BYU, St. George, Utah, May 24, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Matt Hickman, St. George News

At the state track meet held last Saturday in Provo, Hickman helped the Warriors win their second straight 4A track and field state championship, posting a top throw of 206 feet, 0.5 inches. That mark, which gave Hickman his third consecutive individual state ttile, was just over one foot shy of Hickman’s personal best of 207 feet, 5 inches, set two weeks earlier at the BYU Invitational. That 207’05” mark is not only the new state 4A record but also the second-best throw in state history (since the new javelin rules in 2000), according to Utah High School Activities Association’s record books.

Counting his final throw at state last Saturday, Hickman now has six of the top 12 javelin throws ever made by a Utah high school athlete, according to UHSAA.

Hickman said he won’t be enrolling at BYU until the fall of 2025, as he will first serve a two-year mission in Charleston, West Virginia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, starting in August.

He said at the signing ceremony that he hopes his mission will prepare him “mentally and spiritually for college.”

Snow Canyon head track coach Justin Redfearn speaks during signing ceremony for javelin thrower Bo Hickman, St. George, Utah, May 24, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Matt Hickman, St. George News

During his brief remarks at the signing ceremony, Snow Canyon head coach Justin Redfearn called Hickman “a man of high character.” 

“It’s been an absolute honor to have him in our program,” Redfearn said. “I am so grateful for him, for the man that he is.”

Hickman in turn thanked Redfearn and the other Snow Canyon coaches for their guidance and support.

Of Redfearn, Hickman quipped, “He may not know the most about the javelin, but he knows enough to sit down there on the field and say, ‘Chuck it over my head.’” 

“Coach Redfearn is an awesome coach,” Hickman added. “I mean, he’s just taken this program from the ground and built it up to where now everyone wants to throw javelin.”

Hickman also thanked his father and his uncle for their mentorship as well. He also expressed his gratitude toward his teammates and fellow students.

“It’s just been so awesome,” he added. “Such an amazing ride.” 

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