PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Geist wanted to hit the wall.

He came just short.

Geist, a Knoch senior, threw the shot put 74 feet, 9 inches at the Penn Relays Friday afternoon, shattering his own record of 73-¾ from last season.

The wall at the end of the throwing pit was a little more than 75 feet away.

“He almost had it,” said Knoch throwing coach and Jordan's mother, Judy Geist.

No matter. Jordan Geist will take his record-setting performance.

Geist's first three throws landed 74 or more feet away. His third throw was promising, but his elbow dipped a little too much and the shot put had a little too much arc.

“At least we know what we need to work on,” Judy Geist said.

Jordan Geist seems to relish the pressure that comes with the big meets like the Penn Relays.

He was exposed to pressure-packed events at a young age.

“We took him to bigger meets so he would be prepared from this kind of stuff,” Judy Geist said.

Jordan Geist feeds off of it.

He said in practice he rarely touches 70 feet on his throws because the adrenalin of the crowds and the atmosphere aren't there to drive him.

“The environment really helps out a lot,” Geist said. “I use the adrenalin, as long as the technique doesn't break down.”

When asked how he is able to perform under pressure, Geist offers a simple explanation.

“I'm honestly not sure,” he said, laughing. “I just saw this as I've been here before and I don't have anything to lose.”

Geist won the event easily. The second place throw was just more than 70 feet.

Geist will throw at Moniteau and then at Baldwin next week.

He said he's using those competitions as training for the grand prize, the national meet in mid-June.

“It's kind of frustrating because every meet I want to break the national record, but I also know that's not always possible,” Geist said. “I don't want to peak too early. If it happens too early, then I'll be disappointed at nationals. But if it happens too late, all those throws will be meaningless.”