Geist launches historic shot-hammer double at NBNO

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It's one thing to leave your mark on a meet, but what Jordan Geist did Saturday was literally leave his mark on the shot put sector at Aggie Stadium. 

And that was just to start a monumental day for the strongman from Pennsylvania. INTERVIEW

WATCH LIVE SUNDAY | BIG BOARD | VIDEOS

Geist knew he was a heavy favorite to win the shot put. Class of 2017 rivals Bronson Osborn and Tripp Piperi, the 2016 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion, were both injured and unable to compete. 

It didn't stop Geist from pushing himself.  He sent his fifth round throw wide of the sector -- a foul -- but it landed 78 feet away and chipped cement off the curb at the far end of the throwing area. Then, on his sixth attempt, he threw a season-best and meet-record 76 feet. The shot bounced, smacked the curb again and left a small crack. It also moved him to No. 3 on the all-time outdoor list behind Michael Carter (1979) and Brent Noon (1990).

"I thought Tripp was going to throw on the ride down (from western Pennsylvania), but on the ride down here I saw that he wasn't," Geist said. "I was pretty much guaranteed the shot put title, but it doesn't mean as much if I don't have to really, really work for it."

Fortunately, Piperi's injury isn't as bad as that of Osborn, who has missed the entire 2017 season. There is renewed hope that Geist and Piperi will face off at Sacramento next week at USATF Juniors. 

As Geist and the rest of the podium finishers made their way to the infield to receive their awards, there was little time for "the Beast" to enjoy his win. He was about to enter his first high school hammer competition and he was practicing his turns, while he waited for his first medal. 

Then, throwing in the second of three flights, Geist launched the hammer far enough (217-8) to make the finals. 

On his sixth and final attempt in the hammer ring, Geist flung the implement off one leg and it landed at 238-9 (72.78m). 

Geist had competed in a hammer competition of any kind just once before. A couple of summers ago he threw 150 feet in a low-key event. On Saturday, in his first important hammer competition, he won the national championship by 25 feet and inserted his name at No. 13 on the all-time list. 

"It was very surprising, especially that distance," the University of Arizona recruit said. "The best I had ever thrown in practice was about 220 (feet). I was going to be completely happy with 210."

Geist is entered in the discus Sunday.

Elsewhere, there were numerous championship events contested. 

The boys sprint medley relay offered one fo the day's best highlights. Motor City TC (Oak Park MI) ran the second-fastest time in history with 3:20.25 on the way to a hard-fought victory. Cameron Cooper anchored it with a 1:47.81 800-meter split and overcame Houston Speed (Strake Jesuit TX) and Oxon Hill VA in the final straightaway for the win.

Strake Jesuit moved to No. 3 all-time and Oxon Hill logged No. 6 all-time.

Alyssa Wilson of Donovan Catholic NJ, entered in three throwing events this weekend, got off to a great start by winning the discus with 179-7 and breaking a 20-year-old meet record.

Paige Keefer split 2:05.69 to extend West Babylon NY's lead and win the girls 1,600-meter sprint medley relay (3:54.23).

In the boys 100 meters, Anthony Schwartz of Teon Elite TC FL ran 10.27 for victory that shored up his US#1 ranking.

In the girls 100, Symone Mason of Southridge FL ran 11.27 to win the title and fellow Floridian Twanisha Terry of Miami Northwestern was second in 11.37. In placing third, sophomore Thelma Davies broke Dawn Sowell's all-time Pennsylvania record in the 100 with 11.41 seconds. Sowell ran 11.49 back in 1983.