University of Arizona sophomore Jordan Geist placed third overall in the men’s shot put at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday evening at the University of Texas in Austin.
The Knoch graduate, who won his second Pac-12 outdoor title in as many seasons last month, delivered his best throw of 20.31 meters (66 feet, 7¾ inches) on his third throw of the competition.
He was not able to better that mark over his final three throws.
Adrian Piperi, a sophomore representing the host Longhorns, captured the national championship with a top attempt of 21.11 (69-3¼).
Georgia senior Denzel Comenentia, the 2018 outdoor national shot put champ, placed second (20.77/68-1¾), while this year’s NCAA indoor meet champion, North Dakota State senior Payton Otterdahl, came in fourth (19.89/65-3¼).
Geist still owns the best throw in the NCAA this season with a personal best of 21.59 (70-10) recorded at the Triton Invitational on April 13.
Jordan Geist wraps up the shot put with a third-place finish to garner First-Team All-America status! #BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/RfyERWu5Fn
— Arizona Track & Field/Cross Country (@ArizonaTrack) June 6, 2019
The mark also set the Arizona school record, and he currently is No. 7 in the world rankings.
Geist’s winning throw of 21.08 (69-2) at the Pac-12 Championships was the best at the meet since 2011.
He came into the NCAA finals as the No. 2 seed after finishing runner-up to Piperi at the NCAA West Preliminary.
For his efforts this spring, Geist was recognized with his fourth U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association West Region Field Athlete of the Year award.
