Down to his last throw and sitting in second place behind his biggest rival, Arizona’s Jordan Geist urged on the crowd for support as he attempted to win the men’s shot put at NCAA Outdoor Championships.
With a flurry of spectators clapping in unison, Geist reached back, spun and let out a furious yell. A metal ball flew through the Austin, Texas night sky, then landed with a thud some 69 feet later, setting off a great cheer.
Moments later, the scoreboard at Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium told the story. Geist had done just enough to become national champion.