Geist sets American U20 shot put record to support historic relays

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The United States saved its best and most historic performance for last Sunday at the 19th Pan American U20 Championships.

After Knoch PA graduate Jordan Geist opened the day with a U.S. U20 record in the men’s 6-kilogram shot put, the Americans capped the three-day meet at “CHAN CHAN” Athletics Stadium in Trujillo, Peru with a World U20 performance for the ages in the men’s 4x400 relay.

Damien CA graduate Zach Shinnick, a USC signee, teamed with adidas professional Josephus Lyles, Lakeside DeKalb GA sophomore Brian Herron and Keller Fossil Ridge TX graduate Sean Hooper, a Texas Tech commit, to clock 3 minutes, 0.33 seconds to take down a record of 3:01.09 set by the American quartet of Brandon Johnson, Jason Craig, Kerron Clement and LaShawn Merritt at the 2004 World U20 Championships in Italy.

Only NCAA Division 1 champion Texas A&M, which included 400 collegiate record holder Fred Kerley, has run faster this year than Shinnick, Lyles, Herron and Hooper, whose performance would have won the IAAF World Relays in April. It marked the fifth consecutive victory for the U.S. men in the 4x400 and 15th overall in meet history, giving the Americans 22 gold medals and 54 overall in the three-day meet.

Including the meet-record 3:28.57 from the women’s 4x400 relay, the Americans produced a fifth consecutive sweep of both 4x400 relays and their 10th in meet history.

Denver East CO sophomore Arria Minor teamed with Texas A&M freshman Jaevin Reed, Alabama freshman Takyera Roberson and Nansemond River VA graduate Syaira Richardson – an Ohio State signee – to win the eighth consecutive gold medal for the U.S. and break the 2007 record of 3:29.67 set by another American quartet.

Although the U.S. swept all four relays for the eighth time at the biennial meet, when it came to individual performances, Geist had the most exceptional effort.

The Arizona signee produced a third-round throw of 72 feet, 3 inches (22.02m) to surpass not only the meet record, but the national prep and U.S. U20 marks with the 6-kilogram implement. Wake Forest’s John Maurins had established the American U20 record with a 71-10.25 (21.90m) at the 2015 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, with Esperanza CA graduate Bronson Osborn – a UCLA signee – setting the national high school standard at 69-9.50 (21.27m) to take third at last year’s World U20 Championships in Poland.

Geist, who had thrown 71-10 (21.89m) indoors Feb. 7 at the Hempfield Spartans Competition, opened the competition Sunday with a 70-7.75 (21.53m) effort. Following a foul on his second attempt, Geist elevated to the No. 5 performer in World U20 history with his third-round mark, securing the third consecutive gold medal for the Americans and the 16th in meet history.

The Woodlands TX graduate Adrian Piperi, a Texas signee, secured bronze for the U.S. with his fourth-round effort of 66-5.75 (20.26m).

Along with Geist and the relays, the U.S. set two more meet records, part of the seven overall established on the final day of competition.

Connecticut freshman Eric van der Els prevailed in the men’s 1,500 meters in 3:43.16, taking down the 2005 standard of 3:45.72 by Canada’s Mike Woods to secure the sixth consecutive title for the Americans and 12th in meet history. Kyle Madden, another Canadian, also ran faster than the previous record to earn the silver medal in 3:44.19, with St. Joseph Notre Dame CA graduate Cooper Teare – an Oregon commit – capturing bronze for the U.S. in 3:46.46.

College of the Sequoias freshman Quincy Hall helped the U.S. extend its longest individual winning streak in any event to eight consecutive gold medals in the men’s 400 hurdles by clocking 49.02, lowering the record of 49.31 from 2009 held by fellow American William Wynne.

Hall, who entered the meet as the World U20 leader at 49.39, improved to the No. 9 all-time U.S. U20 performer on his way to capturing the 15th overall gold medal in the event for the Americans. East Orange NJ graduate Cory Poole, a Florida signee, earned bronze for the U.S. by clocking 50.14.

Florida freshman Brandee’ Johnson secured the second straight gold medal and seventh in meet history for the Americans in the women’s 400 hurdles with her victory in 56.65. Canadian Xahria Santiago, last year’s World U20 bronze medalist in Poland, earned silver in 57.01, with Bullis MD junior Masai Russell capturing the bronze for the U.S. in 57.55.

Virginia Tech freshman Sarah Edwards became the second American to win the 3,000 steeplechase, the first since 2011, by prevailing in 10:10.68. North Rockland NY graduate Alexandra Harris, a Villanova signee who earned bronze in 2015, improved 17 seconds from two years ago in Canada to secure another bronze in 10:14.76.

Redondo Union CA graduate Tate Curran became the second consecutive men’s pole vault champion and 10th in meet history for the Americans by clearing 17-0.75 (5.20m).

Adriana Rodriguez Fuentes captured the fifth heptathlon title for Cuba, setting the meet record with 5,733 points, taking down the 2013 mark of 5,627 established by fellow countrywoman Yusleidys Valasquez.

Kansas State freshman Ariel Okorie secured silver for the U.S. with 5,253 points, with Canadian Dallyssa Huggins, a Maryland freshman, improving from fifth to third after clocking 2:10.83 in the 800 to finish with 5,237.

Canada added a pair of gold medals, sweeping the women’s 1,500 for the first time and earning its first title in the women’s hammer throw.

Lucia Stafford (4:21.70) and Laura Parkinson (4:25.03) took the top two spots in the 1,500, with Oklahoma State freshman Michelle Magnani earning bronze for the U.S. in 4:25.65.

Camryn Rogers had a third-round throw of 208-1 (63.42m) to win the women’s hammer championship.

Cuba produced its third consecutive men’s triple jump gold medal and 12th in meet history, with Arturo Rodriguez Perez winning with a third-round leap of 52-3.25 (15.93m). Nebraska freshman Isaiah Griffith captured bronze for the Americans with his second-round jump of 50-10.25 (15.50m).

Mexico crowned its first men’s high jump champion, with Roberto Vilches Ruisanchez clearing 7-3 (2.21m) on his first attempt. Arizona freshman Justice Summerset cleared 7-2.25 (2.19m) to tie for third and earned the bronze medal based over Bahamian Kyle Alcine based on fewer attempts at 7-1 (2.16m).

Mexico also celebrated a meet record in the women’s 10,000 race walk, with Alegna Gonzalez Munoz taking down the 2015 standard set by Bolivia’s Stefany Coronado by more than two minutes to win in 44:43.89.