Shot put standouts
Jordan Geist and Maura Kimmel are doing more than honing in on their sport.
They are honing in on greatness within it.
Geist, a Knoch sophomore, and Kimmel, a Moniteau junior, will be competing in the shot put at the Pennsylvania Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday at State College.
They have also qualified for the New Balance Nationals March 13-15 in New York City.
“I'm excited about that caliber of competition,” Geist said. “All due respect to my fellow athletes, there hasn't been a lot of competition for me around Pennsylvania and Ohio.”
Geist has been truly dominant this indoor season. He ranks first in the state with a toss of 66 feet, 0.75 inches — nine feet more than his closest competitor — and second nationally. Willie Morrison of Leavenworth, Kansas, has heaved the shot put 67 feet, 4 inches this winter.
Before the indoor season began, Geist had set a goal of hitting 65 feet by the end of the spring outdoor season. He placed third in the PIAA Championships last spring with a heave of 57.7 feet.
“The technique has been there,” said Judy Geist, his mother and throwing coach. “Now he's been building up his strength and that's making a huge difference.
“Jordan hadn't been practicing the discus since last summer. He picked it up once this winter and threw it 185 feet. That's simply improved strength.”
Geist placed fifth in the discus at last spring's PIAA meet with a toss of 162.3 feet.
He has been watching video, studying the technique of Olympic throwers. Geist has decided not to play football next fall to concentrate on his throwing events.
“I want to keep improving my distance with every meet,” he said. “If that puts me first in the nation, fine. I'm hoping to get a scholarship and we are looking at the Olympics.“The state indoor record is 68 feet, set about 10 years ago. I'd love to take a shot at that.”The record is 68-11.5, set by Ryan Whiting of Central Dauphin.Geist's mother was a two-time All-American in throwing events at Slippery Rock University. She graduated from The Rock in 1991.“I guess Jordan got the right genes,” she said, laughing.The 2024 Olympic Games may be held in Boston, Mass.“I should be at my peak around that time,” Geist said. “That's what I'm looking at. Dare to dream.”Kimmel is dreaming about breaking Moniteau's school record of 41-4 in the shot put. That was set by Jayne Beatty more than 30 years ago.Beatty was inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.“She saw me practicing one day and has been working with me,” Kimmel said of Beatty. “She's been a big help.”Kimmel ranks eighth in the state this indoor season with a shot put toss of 41 feet. She hit 35-2 at the state meet last spring.“I don't know where that came from,” Kimmel said. “It was like three feet farther than my previous best.”But since that state meet, Kimmel has been steadily working at the shot put. Moniteau's throwing coach, Ryan Protzman, is a former standout Warrior athlete himself.“I owe a lot to him,” Kimmel said. “He's been working with me two or three times a week since August.“It's great having a coach who cares so much about the sport. I'm using more of a slide technique now and I'm getting more distance as a result.”The top eight in each event at the state indoor meet earn a spot on the medal stand — and Kimmel wants to be there.“I'll probably have to hit my best throw to do it, but I know I'm capable of that,” she said. “The top throw in the state is 47 feet. I doubt I can get there, but I can medal.”Like Geist, Kimmel is hopeful of attaining a college scholarship for her throwing ability. Lock Haven and Waynesburg have already contacted her.She quit basketball to focus on track.“When I got to ninth grade, some older friends of mine on the track team said I should try out, that I have broad shoulders and I'm built strong ... that I'd be good in the throwing events,” Kimmel said.“I'm glad they talked me into it.”
