LAKEWOOD • Jaedyn Kohn sat on the cusp of an early exit from the girls discus one year after earning a title in the event.

Kohn scratched on her first two throws in the 3A discus finals on May 17 at Jeffco Stadium.

Then, on her third toss, Kohn had her best throw of the season (127-02) and, minutes later, she surpassed her best mark by more than two feet.

After nearly missing the finals, Kohn earned back-to-back discus championships for Woodland Park with a personal-best throw of 129 feet, 7 inches.

“It was iffy for a second,” Kohn said. “I knew what I was doing, I just had to get it done at that point. After that third throw, I ran straight to my mom and my coach.”

In her first state appearance last season, Kohn set a then-PR of 125-07 – nearly 20 feet better than her best throw of 2023 – to win the event.

Kohn said she’s grateful to be a champion for the Panthers as she had no plans to compete in track and field.

Kohn joined the Panthers’ team last season after Woodland Park athletic director Chad Cosner coaxed her to do so.

“He was like, ‘Do you want to join track?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely not, I hate running,” Kohn said. “He told me I didn’t have to run, but I didn’t know how to throw a disc or shot (put). He said, ‘I’ll buy you a cup of coffee if you throw.’ … I got a caramel macchiato and won state.”

As a junior, Kohn’s lone first-place finish in discus came at state. This season, she racked up five wins including her toss in the finals.

“I have to give it all to my coach (Steven Johnson),” Kohn said. “He’s helped me through pretty much everything in my life. Not just throwing. He’s always there so I have to give him credit for getting me here.”