Knoch’s Jordan Geist headed to NCAAs in both shot put, discus

By: Chris Harlan
Sunday, June 3, 2018 | 8:03 PM

PIAA record-holder Jordan Geist, now a freshman thrower at Arizona, will compete for a national title in both the shot put and discus this week at the NCAA track and field championships.

The NCAA meet is Wednesday-Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

Geist enters the championship seeded fourth in the shot put at 20.27 meters (60 feet, 6 inches) and 18th in the discus at 55.30 meters (181 feet, 5 inches) after a season that saw him named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after winning conference titles in both events.

He qualified for the NCAA championships last week in Sacramento, Calif., one of two NCAA regional sites.

Seeded ahead of Geist in the shot put are South Carolina senior Josh Awotunde (20.54), Texas freshman Adrian Piperi (20.41) and Georgia junior Denzel Comenentia (20.34).

Mississippi senior Brian Williams leads in discus at 60.34 meters.

The shot put finals are Wednesday with the discus on Friday.

The USTFCC Coaches Association named Geist as the West Region Field Athlete of the Year on Friday.

Jordan Geist USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year

?: https://t.co/BKUrFUM2Pd

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) June 1, 2018

?HE IS IN?

Following a protest, Jordan Geist advances to Eugene with a mark of 55.30m (181-5) to take 12th in the discus!!#BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/7juek8bDv8

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) May 25, 2018

???

Jordan Geist adds a 2nd event in Eugene! The freshman advances in the shot put following a 2nd place finish with a mark of 20.27m (66-6)!!#BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/1Yz14IVyyp

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) May 27, 2018

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.