Knoch graduate Jordan Geist, seen here throwing in a shot put event while at the University of Arizona, advanced to Sunday’s finals in the men’s hammer throw at the Olympic Trials. Union grad Evie Bliss made the cut in the women’s javelin. Submitted file photo

Knoch graduate Jordan Geist (men’s hammer throw) and Union graduate Evie Bliss (women’s javelin) both reached Sunday’s finals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials but fell short of qualifying for Paris.

Geist 76.30-meter effort earned him a fifth-place finish in his event, which was won by Daniel Haugh (79.41). Geist also narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the shot put June 22, finishing fourth and just outside the cut with a throw of 21.79 meters.

Despite finishing sixth, Bliss’ throw of 183 feet, 2 inches was the best of her career. Now a freshman at Bucknell, she tied her personal best with her first throw of the first round Friday (173-1), then set a new one with her second (175-1). She blew that away with her 183-2 with her third throw.

Maggie Malone Hardin won the finals with a throw of 211-10, while Kara Winger (206-6) and Madison Wiltrout (200-8) will also be going to the Olympics.

Butler graduate and Notre Dame runner C.J. Singleton finished 22nd in the first round of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday, June 22. He turned in a time of 8:41.45 in the round.