Winner's Jaxon Day turns setback into state-leading discus mark

May 6—WINNER, S.D. — Jaxon Day didn't need a reminder of how quickly momentum and results can swing in track and field.

The Winner junior learned that lesson the hard way a year ago. Now, he's turning it into fuel for one of the most dominant throwing seasons in South Dakota.

Day, a thrower for the Warriors' boys track and field team, has emerged this spring as the state's top discus competitor, rewriting both his own expectations and the school record book. His signature moment came April 11 at the Bill Pistulka Invite in Winner, where he uncorked a personal-best throw of 191 feet, 6 inches, to win the event on his home field. The mark not only set a new school record, but also stands as the best discus throw in South Dakota this season across all classes and the state's sixth-best mark all-time.

For Day, the throw was the result of a year-long transformation that began with disappointment. As a sophomore, he entered the state meet as the No. 3-ranked discus thrower after posting a season-best mark of 169-4, including a conference title. But the state stage proved unforgiving. Day finished 13th with a throw of 132-8, his second-shortest mark of the year, which stuck with him.

"After state (last year), that really flipped a switch in my head, and I knew that I really needed to put more time and effort into this so I don't have to feel these feelings that I felt," Day said. "That moment really pushed me the most heading into this season."

The response has been noticeable. In just one year, Day has improved his top discus throw by 22 feet, 2 inches — from 169-4 to 191-6 — a leap that has elevated him from contender to favorite in nearly every meet he enters.

Through four competitions this season, Day has been untouchable in the discus, claiming first place each time. His latest victory came May 2 at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in Sioux Falls, where he topped a loaded field of 40 throwers with a winning toss of 174-11.

The consistency has been just as impressive as the distance, and Day credits much of that growth to his approach away from throwing.

"Honestly, just the way I lift because I have people that push me in the gym way harder than they did last year," Day said of his major improvements. "And it's just the consistency that I have been sticking with, and it has really kept me going. I have had a locked-in mindset between the gym and practice which has helped me a lot."

Winner head coach Jayd Schuyler has seen that shift firsthand. For him, Day's physical gains are only part of the story.

"When he didn't finish where he wanted to last year, you could just see this year that he was hungry to throw well," Schuyler said. "And just how he is handling everything mentally is the good thing you like to see from him. I think mentally is where he has developed more than anything else."

That mental edge has been critical, especially as expectations have risen. With the top mark in the state and a growing spotlight, staying focused has become its own challenge for Day.