Step aside, Ryan Crouser.
Knoch (PA) senior Jordan Geist broke the national high school record in the 16-pound shot put at Thursday night's Hempfield Area Competition. Geist threw a best of 68-4 to shatter the previous national record held by Ryan Crouser at 63-11.
Most high schoolers throw with a 12-pound shot, but in college and in international competition, 16-pounds is the standard weight. Geist, who has signed with the University of Arizona, opted to try out the 16-pounder at Hempfield.
Geist started his series off 62-3, which was already a US#2 all-time and he gradually worked his way up from there. In round two, he threw 63-10.5, just off Crouser's mark. Then in round three, he broke the record with a heave of 64-4.5. He then launched a 64-6 in round four, before closing with a huge 68-4. Still, that would be a US#1 with a 12-pound by over seven feet.
For perspective, that would have placed Geist fifth at the US Olympic Team Trials.
Geist already holds the Pennsylvania state record in the 12-pound shot put and sits at #3 all-time indoors with a best of 72.9.5. Outdoors, he is #6 all-time with a 74-4.5. Last week, Geist started his season off with a US#1 71-4 in the shot put at the Dickinson Holiday Invitational.
Stay tuned for more coverage from Hempfield.
Watch an interview with Geist after his season opener at Dickinson:
