Knoch grad Jordan Geist looks forward to training after Olympic Trials experience
Jul. 13—After a busy six months of training and competition on some of the biggest stages in track and field, Jordan Geist is enjoying some rest and relaxation.
But the Knoch alum and graduate student at Arizona soon will be back in a training mindset to prepare for the stretch run of his collegiate throwing career.
"I will probably be doing some mobility and agility stuff pretty soon," said Geist, who won the shot put at the Pac-12 Championships in May, tied for third in the shot put at the NCAA Championships on June 9, and finished seventh in the men's shot put at the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 18 in Eugene, Ore.
"I probably won't start any lifting until closer to August, and then it will be a little longer for throwing. I have a lot I can and want to build on from this past season."
It's been quite a recent ride for Geist, who earned his undergraduate degree in December and began a graduate program in marketing in the spring.
With a full indoor and outdoor season plus an additional indoor season in the winter of 2023 remaining, Geist will work toward a second master's in finance. Group work, projects and other areas of study will keep him busy along with his training and competitions.
Last month's appearance at the Olympic Trials was a year in the making for Geist after the Tokyo Games were postponed in 2020 because of concerns of the covid pandemic.
Geist came in as the seventh seed in the 24-thrower shot put field. He achieved his seed distance with a career-best 21.59 meters at the Triton Invitational in California in April 2019.
He threw three times in the morning preliminaries. He fouled once and didn't reach 20 meters in either of the two throws that counted. He placed 11th, and the top 12 advanced to the finals.
"At the morning session, I wasn't throwing very well, and I barely squeaked into the finals," Geist said.
"But between the sessions, there was about a six-hour break where I was able to look at my throws and figure out what I needed to do for the evening. Whenever I came back, I was a little more dialed in. I knew what to focus on. Instead of just trying to survive, I thought about what I had to fix, and it worked to my benefit."
In the six throws of the finals, Geist had four that exceeded his previous season best of 20.40 (66-11.25) which earned him third at the NCAA championships, also in Eugene. It was the first time he threw a season best at a national meet.
His best of the Olympic Trials, a 20.80 (68-3), came on his fifth throw of the finals and secured seventh. He was one of two current collegiate throwers to finish in the top eight.
Ryan Crouser, the shot put gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, set a national and world record with a throw of 23.37 (76-8.25) in the finals. The previous record had stood since 1990.
"This was the first meet in years where I wasn't expected to make a team or win or anything like that," Geist said.
"Because of my seed, I wasn't expected to do anything. So, I was able to just focus on my throws, and in doing that, I was able to hit those season bests. I had nothing to lose, basically, because no one was expecting me to make the Olympic team. Of course, I could have if I threw a personal best by a foot. In this sport, that's really difficult to do. But I was able to walk away proud of what I accomplished."
Geist took the 2020 indoor season off, opting for additional training for the outdoor season at Arizona and the Olympic Trials. But both were canceled.
Training continued for Geist, and he had the chance to compete in a few meets later in the summer between Tucson and Phoenix.
"It felt good to get back out there and compete, and the meets themselves went pretty well," Geist said.
"That got me pretty excited to start up again in the winter."
Covid and the recovery process slowed Geist in his preparation for the indoor season, but he was soon in the mix at events.
He capped the campaign with a mark of 18.89 meters (61 feet, 11.75 inches) in the shot to place 13th at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. He picked up second-team All-American honors for the season.
"The indoor season, results-wise, wasn't what I was hoping for, but it was just nice to compete again and get that feeling of normalcy."
Geist navigated his way through the outdoor season and brought home his third Pac-12 title in the shot put with a winning attempt of 20.35 (66-9.25).
"Right around the Pac-12 Championships is when I started to turn my season around," Geist said.
He started the Pac-12 meet with a runner-up finish in the hammer throw (71.78 meters) with a personal best by almost two feet (235-6).
"This is the first year I really have been able to be successful with (the hammer) at the national (collegiate) level," said Geist, who won the 2017 New Balance Outdoor national title in the hammer in his first meet throwing the implement.
"I didn't get as long of a throw as I am capable of yet in the hammer, but with another year, I hope to make a jump."
Geist's accomplishments this season certainly are not lost on his coach at Arizona, T.J. Crater.
"Jordan persevered through covid and the ups and downs of a season with a maturity I can't even explain," Crater said. "He kept his composure and stayed focused on the end goal. His three best meets of the year were the three that counted the most. I was beyond proud of him. I think he had a lot more in the tank if we would've had a couple more weeks, but that's our sport.
"He's never satisfied, and any expectation I have for Jordan isn't anywhere near what he has for himself. I know he has a lot more to prove. I am thankful for what he has done for our program, and I am very excited to be a part of him hopefully reaching his goals and achieving what he is capable on the big stage."
Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-856-7400 x8632, mlove@triblive.com or via Twitter .
