EDINBORO — What started out as a precarious meet turned into a monumental one for Jordan Geist Saturday at Edinboro University.

The senior Knoch thrower nearly rolled his ankle on the toe board and also slipped in the throwing circle on a later throw during the shot put competition.

But Geist regrouped and uncorked a throw of 76 feet, 10½ inches. The effort was the second best high school indoor throw of all-time in the United States.

He’s just 4¼ inches away from the national indoor shot put record of 77-2¾ set by Ryan Crouser in 2011.

Crouser was a gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the shot put.

“On the fifth throw I got my rhythm,” Geist said. “It was my (personal record) by three feet. I haven’t done that kind of PR since my freshman year.”

Geist’s best indoor throw last season was 72-9½.

Geist also has the fifth best throw in the world with a different weight shot and will compete at the IAAF World Championships in London in August.

Geist, as always, wants to do better.

“I’m still 4¼ inches away,” Geist said. “It’s a great training tool. Every last rep has a purpose and will hopefully get me there.”

Geist will compete in the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor State Championships this Saturday in State College and then will throw at the New Balance National Indoor meet in New York City March 10-12.

That’s two more chances for Geist to achieve the national record.

“It’s tough to tell what next week will bring,” Geist said. “Consistency is the key in this sport. This sport is one of the few where it is almost all mental It’s 95 percent mental.”

Geist, though, is also focusing on the physical.

He’s fine-tuning his mechanics in the hopes of squeezing precious inches of distance out of his throws.

“It’s coming along very well,” he said. “There a few things to work on and to critique.”

There’s another number Geist is eyeing: 81-3½.

That’s the national outdoor record in the shot put set by Michael Carter in 1979.

Geist, though, will worry about that at a later time.

He’s focused on Crouser’s mark now.

“As far as 77 feet, that’s the one I think I can reach,” Geist said. “As far as 81, it would be great to get it, for sure. We just have to see how it goes.”