CHARLESTON – Edwardsville’s Jayla Gathing won the girls discus state championship Saturday, May 23, 2026, after a tiebreaker decided first place, while teammate Joi Story surged from 10th to third, giving Edwardsville two top-three finishes in the event.
Gathing threw 46.17 meters, matching Jaloni Wiley of Homewood-Flossmoor. Gathing won the title because she had the better second-best throw.
“We were tied for first,” Jayla said. “Then my last throw of 44 meters was better than her (the Homewood-Flossmoor’s Wiley’s) second one to get the title.”
Gathing said the outcome was unusual, with the second-best throw being a deciding factor.
“It has happened more in the shot put for me where places have been decided by second-best throws, but it is pretty crazy to win that way,” she said. “I am still freaked out. It is a great feeling that I won.”
Story improved from 10th place to finish third Saturday with a throw of 44.61 meters for third place. Jayla and Joi are both Spencer Homes Female Athletes of the Month for the Tigers with their shot put and discus performances.
“I came out early in the morning to get my mind right, which I think was key,” Story said. “It was more like a mental thing for me.”
Jayla’s finish marked another individual state title for Edwardsville in the girls competition and capped the high school careers of the two teammates.
“It is great we have been there for four years in high school together, and it is amazing to finish like that,” Jayla said.
Jayla also described the relationship between the two Edwardsville throwers as supportive and competitive.
“It is healthy competition between the two of us, always wanting to do better together,” Jayla said. “Having someone else on the team who is as good as I am is comforting to both of us. We are always there for each other’s support.”
