JEFFERSON TWP — With more than 200 people gathered around the throwing pit at Knoch High School on a cold and blustery Saturday morning, Jordan Geist’s legend grew.

The Knoch junior, who has made breaking records a common occurrence, shattered another one.

Geist threw the shot put 71 feet, 9¼ inches at the Knoch Relays, breaking a PIAA record that had stood for 44 years.

“It definitely was a cool experience,” said Geist, who became only the third thrower in state history to surpass 70 feet. Ron Semkiw of Baldwin held the record of 70-1¾ since 1972 and 2012 Olympian Ryan Whiting was the other to surpass 70 feet.

“I knew both of those guys who threw 70 feet,” Geist added. “Breaking Ron’s record was special. So was breaking Ryan’s indoor record (this winter).”

Three of Geist’s four throws in the shot Saturday covered more than 70 feet.

“We knew he had it in him,” said Knoch throwing coach and Jordan’s mother, Judy Geist. “We didn’t really expect this on such a cold day.”

Jordan Geist was in the third flight, but waited out most of the first two flights indoors at the school.

When it was time for him to emerge and warm up, Jordan Geist sought out some heat.

“He tried to find the sun as much as possible,” Coach Geist said, laughing.

But no one has been hotter than Jordan Geist.

He broke the Pennsylvania indoor shot put record a month ago with a throw of 72-9½. He’s the only athlete in state history to break 70 feet in an indoor meet.

Geist threw over 70 feet 14 times this winter.

And now three more times during the outdoor season.

“That’s a good basis to start from,” Coach Geist said. “He’s been consistently throwing over 70 feet.”

Jordan Geist has his eyes set on a series of big meets this spring, starting with the Penn Relays later this month.

The next meet in his cross hairs is the PIAA Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg Memorial Day weekend and then the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet in Greensboro, N.C., June 17-19.

Geist threw 71 feet at a dual meet scrimmage last week.

“That’s abnormal for me to do at dual meets,” he said. “Invitationals I take a little more seriously. During dual meets I’m more laid back, relaxed and joke around a little more. I think I can throw as far as I do in big meets because I am laid back.”

Geist may give the WPIAL a unique problem this year.

The shot put throwing pit at Baldwin, where the Baldwin Invitational and the WPIAL finals are held, is only 70 feet.

Several dual meets this season have been moved to Knoch because other host schools don’t have pits long enough to support Geist.

“We only have one away meet,” Coach Geist said. “We had a meet scheduled at Kiski moved here because their pit is only 65 feet. He’d be throwing it into the parking lot there.”

Geist isn’t sure what to think about the fact pits that were once thought plenty big enough can’t contain him.

“It’s a real reality check,” Geist said. “It reminds me how good I am doing and how much better I want to do.”

Geist currently has the No. 1 shot put throw in the country in this young outdoor season and the 12th best all-time in the nation.

He has the best throw in Butler County history by more than 10 feet.

“It doesn’t change his goals,” Coach Geist said. “He just wants to stay focused and try to (throw a personal record) each meet.”