Jordan Geist

BUTLER TWP — With his success over the past year, Jordan Geist admits he has raised his standards when competing at invites.

He showed why at Friday’s Butler Track and Field Invitational.

Knoch’s sophomore not only won the boys shot put and discus, he shattered the meet record in both events. He was a clear-cut choice as Boys Field MVP.

His throw of 66 feet, 1.5 inches in the shot put toppled the previous record of 63-10 set by Sharon’s Austin Paypay in 2004.

Geist then managed a heave of 171-7 in the discus, taking down the meet’s oldest record of 168-5, set by Mount Lebanon’s Phil Rosenstern in 1972. It was Geist’s second straight win in the event at the Butler Invite. He won last year with a 153-10.5.

“As a freshman last year, I was just looking to win my events,” said Geist. “This year, my goal is to break records. If I don’t do that, I want to come as close as I can. With the way things went today, I can’t complain.

“I wanted to get 180 in the discus today, but it didn’t happen. To get there, I just need to be more relaxed in the circle and more crisp with my technique. I just want to get bigger and stronger.”

Geist had a 66-0.75 in the shot put during the indoor season over the winter.

“I would say the shot put is actually my best event,” he said. “With indoor, obviously you’re dealing with perfect conditions. But then you get days like today (70 degrees) during the outdoor season. I feel I am more explosive at this time of the year.

Geist’s effort in the discus Friday would have placed him second in the WPIAL and fifth in the state last year.

“I want to keep getting personal records and see where that takes me,” he said.

What a difference a year has made for Moniteau’s Maura Kimmel.

As a sophomore in 2014, she competed in Butler’s Junior Varsity Invitational.

She took home wins in the girls shot put (38 feet) and discus (124-1) on Friday.

“I was super-concerned coming here today because I thought Hickory’s (Elena Marchand) would be competing,” said Kimmel. “When I found out she wasn’t, I thought I might have a chance in both events.”

Marchand, also a junior, placed third in the state in the Class AAA shot put and discus last May.

But Kimmel is herself becoming a star in the field that others need to contend with. By the end of last season, she had medaled in both events at the District 9 Class AA Championships and made the state meet in the shot put.

“I began working with our boys throwing coach, Ryan Protzman, last year and really started to take it seriously,” said Kimmel.

“We fixed a few things with her technique to get her through the state meet last year,” said Protzman. “After that, she started lifting weights and has been working ever since. She just put in a full season of indoor. I think she’s capable of taking both events at districts.”

Indiana’s Jessica Stever was chosen as Girls Field MVP.