SHIPPENSBURG — Judy Geist threw her arms around her son and Knoch senior thrower Jordan Geist and squeezed.

Jordan dug his square chin into her shoulder and began to cry.

It was a release of sorts for both Geists — Judy the throwing coach and Jordan the thrower, but more than that. It was the last time mother and son would be side by side at the PIAA Track and Field Championships, dominating.

“The emotion didn't really kick in until after,” Jordan said. “She gave me a hug and started crying and then I started crying. It was a special moment.”

That special moment came shortly after another. Jordan Geist won his third straight state title in the Class AAA shot put on an overcast Friday afternoon at Shippensburg University, throwing 71 feet, 4½ inches to win by more than 10 feet over second-place finisher Matt Slagus of North Pocono.

Still, Jordan Geist was disappointed.

His state title throw was three feet shorter than the one he uncorked last year to win the title and five feet shorter than his personal best.

His last throw Friday landed more than 76 feet away, but he fouled.

That added to the emotion.

“Well, I knew he was disappointed and he wanted to do better,” Judy Geist said. “All the emotion kind of has been building up for both of us.”

Still, Jordan Geist is a three-time state gold medalist in the shot in both indoor and outdoor — no small feat.

“It's a real honor looking at the history of the state,” Jordan Geist said.

His plan all along was to peak for the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet in mid-June.

“He said that over and over,” Judy Geist said. “I told him, 'Jordan, you have to trust the process.' He wants to peak at nationals and he wants to qualify for the Pan American Games in Peru.”

Jordan Geist will have one more event in his high school career Saturday afternoon when he shoots for a state meet record in the discus.

He already has the state record throw of 208-11. The state meet record is 202-10.

Judy Geist, who will no longer coach the throwers at Knoch after this season, doesn't know how she will get through it.

“I'm going to be a wreck,” she said, laughing. “A hot mess.”

Jordan Geist just wants to make a hot mess of the competition, channelling his disappointment into huge throws in the discus.

“For sure,” he said. “I've been talking about this for weeks about how I'm focused on the discus for the state meet.”

Judy Geist says look out.

“He's so mad,” she said, “he's going to have a great day in the discus (Saturday).”