JEFFERSON TWP — The sting of not performing up to his high standards at the Junior National 20-Under Track and Field Championships in Clovis, Calif., last weekend is beginning to wear off for Knoch’s Jordan Geist.

At least a little.

Geist missed representing the United States in the shot put at the IAAF World Junior Championships next month by one spot.

Geist finished third in the event — throwing a shot put that weighed 13 pounds instead of the 12-pound ball used in high school — with a throw of 64 feet, 4 inches.

Only the top two made the U.S. team.

“It’s definitely going to be my main source of motivation for next year,” Geist said. “It’s been my dream to represent my country in the sport I love. It’s really hitting me hard.”

But before his senior season, Geist is beginning to allow himself to focus on all that he has accomplished this past school year during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

He’s racked up wins and records just about everywhere he competed:

He won the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet in the shot put with a record throw of 71-2¾.

He won the Pennsylvania Indoor state title in the shot put with a throw of 72-9½. Geist is the only thrower in state history that has topped 70 feet during an indoor meet in the shot put.

He set a Knoch Relays record in the shot put (71-9¼).

He set records in both the shot and discus at the Butler Track and Field Invitational.

He set a Penn Relays record in the shot put with a throw of 73-¾.

He set Baldwin Invitational record in both the shot (72-6) and discus (193-6).

He won the WPIAL title in the shot put and discus. The shot put record had stood for 44 years.

He defended his PIAA titles in both the shot and discus. His throw in the shot put of 74-3½ was a state record.

He won the Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year and was a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

That’s quite a run for an athlete who has been given a fitting nickname: the Knochness Monster.

“Now he has a chance to look back at what he has accomplished and achieved,” said Judy Geist, Knoch throwing coach and Jordan’s mother. “He broke a record just about everywhere he went.”

Jordan Geist will take some time off to rest after going hard for nearly eight months.

“I’ll probably take a full month off from everything,” Geist said.

When he resumes, he’s going to work on his hammer and weight throws.

“I want to be an All-American in the hammer throw at nationals next year,” he said.

Judy Geist has learned not to put anything past her son.

For now, Jordan is trying to get over the disappointment of the past weekend.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he said. “I’m trying to look at all the positive things I did instead of being down on myself.”