MileSplit All-American Watch List: Boys Shot Put
Only a sophomore, Jordan Geist of Knoch High School is going to be something special. Well, Geist actually already is. A state champion and New Balance Nationals Indoor All-American in the shot put, Geist won the Penn Relays shot put title last month and is already flirting with a mark approaching 70 feet with his current US #2 ranking of 69'1".
Boys Shot Put
1. Matt Katnik (St. John Bosco, CA - Sr.) - Last year's California state runner-up, Katnik has thrown over 70 feet in 4 meets this season including notable wins at the Arcadia Invite and Mt. SAC Relays. He is now ranked US #10 all-time in the event with his recent monster throw of 72'3" at his league finals.
2. Willie Morrison (Leavenworth, KS - Sr.) - The 2015 New Balance Nationals indoor champ since his successful trip to New York at the Armory in March has been dominating the throws scene in his home state of Kansas. Morrison has been undefeated and throwing consistently over 65 feet with a season best of 68'11".
3. Jordan Geist (Knoch, PA - So.) - The sophomore star Geist has taken things up a notch this spring since his fourth place finish at New Balance Nationals Indoor including a win at the Penn Relays and launching a US #2 PR of 69'1" at the Baldwin Invite on May 1st. Could a 10th grader actually throw over 70 feet in the shot? He has his state meet next.
4. Daniel Guiliani (South Portland, ME - Jr.) - Maine's state record breaking all-time greatest thrower Guiliani has not been defeated in a shot put competition since his runner-up finish at New Englands last June. Finally broke through with a mark over 60 feet indoors at 62'4" and has stayed consistently over that mark ever since. The throws have been getting bigger and bigger throughout the spring with a most recent PR of 66'5".
5. Adrian Piperi (The Woodlands, TX - So.) - The New Balance Nationals Indoor All-American (5th place) has been the best thrower in the state of Texas all outdoor season winning at the Texas Relays and most recently claiming the Texas 6A state title with a personal best mark of 65'5.25". A USATF Junior Olympic age group champion last summer, Piperi is part of a pair of special sophomore throws on national level between himself and Jordan Geist.
6. Eric Favors (North Rockland, NY - Sr.) - The defending New York state champion and 2015 New Balance Nationals indoor runner-up Favors has had a strong spring season with his only hiccup in a loss to Pennsylvania state champ Geist at the Penn Relays, but was also a season best throw for him at 64'2.50". Favors has picked up wins at two major New York Invites this spring in the Red Raider Relays (64'0") and Loucks Games (62'11.75").
7. Isaiah Rogers (Campbell, GA - Jr.) - All-American indoors in the shot put with a sixth place finish at New Balance Nationals Indoor, Rogers has been on a roll this spring in Georgia going undefeated staying over 60 feet at every meet. Ranked #10 with his 63'11.25" season best, the junior Isaiah Rogers won his first Georgia state title last weekend with his second best mark of 63'8.25".
8. Nathan Bultman (West Ranch, CA - Sr.) - A runner-up at two of California's biggest invitationals in the Arcadia Invite and Mt. SAC Relays, Bultman is arguably the second best thrower in his state behind only the national leader and US #10 all-time performer Matt Katnik.
9. Jon Tharaldson (Bismarck, ND - Sr.) - Defending North Dakota state champ Tharaldson has throw over 60 feet in over a half dozen meets this spring with his best mark coming in his latest meet at regionals in a US #11 63'6.50".
10. Rashad Manning (Riverdale Baptist, MD - Sr.) - Third at New Balance Nationals indoor, Manning only loss this season came in a third place season best throw of 61'9.25". A fairly low key spring so far for Manning with his 63'11" personal best, but should pick up now in the post-season.
MileSplit All-American Watch List: Boys Shot - Boys Discus - Boys Javelin