Winner's Jaxon Day turns setback into state-leading discus mark
· Yahoo Sports
May 6—WINNER, S.D. — Jaxon Day didn't need a reminder of how quickly momentum and results can swing in track and field.
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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.
"That's my biggest problem, just staying out of my own head," he said. "So, before every meet, I usually pray about it because it is a really hard thing not to get into your head at least a little bit. But when I step into that (throwing) ring, my mind goes blank, and it's just me and the ring."
While discus has been his calling card, Day has also contributed in the shot put, even if it hasn't come as naturally. He has recorded two second-place finishes this season, with a personal-best throw of 45-5 at the Big Dakota Conference meet.
His journey in throwing both the shot put and discus has been self-driven, shaped by years of practice.
"I have never really been strong in the shot put, and I have taught myself how to throw since middle school," Day said. "In middle school, I really focused on my discus, and I regret that a little bit because I wish I had thrown the shot put more, but I really just set that aside. But I have been practicing those two (throws) really hard these past few years and trying to continue to get better in each of them."
Schuyler believes Day's build naturally lends itself to discus, but sees untapped potential in the shot put as well.
"Jaxon has always been kind of better at discus because of his build," Schuyler said. "I mean, if you look at him, he looks more like the typical discus thrower. He is not the great, big, huge shot-put guy. But honestly, I think he can still hit the 50-foot mark in the shot put by the end of the year."
Day has also competed in the javelin this season, throwing once at the Pistulka Invite and placing second with a toss of 107 feet. But his primary focus remains firmly on the discus, where he continues to separate himself from the field.
With the state meet set for May 28-30 at Howard Wood Field, Day has already had a preview of the bigger stage and the added pressure at the Dakota Relays. Competing against a large, talented field in the same venue has given him a sense of familiarity heading into the season's biggest meet. It's also given him confidence.
"Winning it was just like a big weight lifted off my chest," Day said after winning the discus at the Dakota Relays on May 2. "I came here and on my first two throws, I was super nervous. I know this is a bigger meet with a lot more schools for Howard Wood. So, I am excited to see where state goes, and I feel like I am going to go into that meet a lot more calm and relaxed now."