LAKEWOOD – On Thursday’s opening day of the Colorado high school track and field state championships, Jaylyn Kechter didn’t do anything out of the ordinary while preparing for the Class 1A discus.

The Idalia junior simply went through her normal routine. But there was nothing normal about Kechter’s performance in this year’s state finals.

Facing a loaded field that included defending state champion and previous meet record-holder Zadie Mackey from Elbert, Kechter threw 137 feet, 8 inches to not only claim the gold medal but set a 1A state meet record. And of course, it came on the final throw of her season.

“It was really cool. I’ve had crazy competition,” Kechter said. “I mean, the two girls above me are incredible and they’ve been pushing me for the last couple years. I didn’t even think it was within reach, but then I prayed this morning and I was like, ‘God, whatever you plan is just let it be,’ and it just fell in my favor. I’m very grateful for that.

“I did everything the same. I was really slipping pretty bad when I was going into the ring. But then going into the last throw, we got a little bit of a break and then it just all came together.”

Lone Star sophomore Jade Kuntz defended her state title in the 1A girls pole vault, clearing 10 feet even. Lone Star freshman, Peytyn Kuntz, who entered the event as the top seed, placed fourth after clearing 8-09.

Also defending her title from last year, Merino sophomore Kya Piel won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 12:28.99.

Sanford – Ashley Dominguez, Brooklynn Reynolds, Holly McDaniel and Erica Miller – won the sprint medley relay title with a time of 1:52.42.

The track and field state championships will continue on Friday starting at 9 a.m.