There was some obvious tension in the WATTS Indoor Track Facility at Youngstown State University when Knoch junior Jordan Geist heaved the shot. Everyone in the building knew it was a far throw. But just how far? That tension built as meet officials took their time measuring. This measurement wasn't something you'd want to mess up.
There was one thing likely on everyone's mind: 70.
Then the announcement from the official came: "69-11.5!" The whole facility hollered. So close!
Geist just smiled.
Still, that distance topped Geist's state record throw from two weeks ago at Slippery Rock. He remains at #9 all-time in the US and still better indoors than Olympian Ryan Whiting. He's still the tope shot putter by a large margin in Pennsylvania as well as the country. 70 will come. Lucky for Geist, his indoor season is still relatively young. And, of course, he's only a junior so he still has a whole other year to go over 70.
Thanks to Hickory coach Keith Woods, we have the video from Geist's record-setting 69-11.5 from Youngstown State. Watch the throw, the build-up, the announcement, and the crowd's reaction. All we know is that we're seeing something special this season.