NEW YORK — Jordan Geist left last year's New Balance Nationals Indoor meet with a fourth-place finish in the shot put and a renewed resolve.

The Knoch junior and Cabot native spent most of this winter honing his throws to get back to The Armory in New York City for another chance at a national championship.

Geist wasn't going to be denied.

Geist unleashed a 70-foot throw on his first attempt and bested that with a first-place and meet record heave of 71-2¾ to win a national high school indoor championship Saturday night in the shot put.

“It's definitely awesome and an honor,” Geist said. “Last year, I just wasn't a very smart thrower. I didn't know what to expect from the facility and the atmosphere. This year I knew what to expect.”

Geist was the only competitor to top 70 feet.

“It was the first time all year I threw 70 on my first throw,” Geist said. “So, I felt pretty good.”

Adrian Piperi of The Woodlands, Texas, was second with a throw of 69-2.

Geist had the top throw in the nation all winter.

“I knew after that first throw he was going to have a good day,” said Knoch throwing coach Judy Geist, who is also Jordan's mother. “I think the feeling is of relief to get a national championship under his belt.”

Judy Geist said the indoor throwing surfaces are much different than the outdoor surfaces.

At The Armory, the circle was particularly slick and competitors were having trouble all evening, the coach said.

“During indoor season, the surface is mostly wood and can be slick,” Judy Geist said. “During outdoor season, the surface is concrete or cement and is much slower.”

Jordan Geist prepared for the fast Armory spinning circle this season.

“I just took all the precautions necessary,” Jordan Geist said. “I took my slowest pair of shoes.”

He said he didn't care in this meet about the distance of his best throw.

“If I threw 65 feet, I would have been happy as long as I won a national championship,” Geist said.

Geist will now take a deep breath and enjoy his title before quickly getting back to it.

The outdoor season is creeping up on Geist and his Knoch high school track and field team as the Knights have a scrimmage against Freeport scheduled for Tuesday.

“I'll be able to enjoy it for at least this week,” Geist said. “Then we'll get started on outdoor season and preparing for the Penn Relays.”

Geist won the shot put at the Penn Relays last year as well as the PIAA championship.

He's looking to build on his already bursting resumè.