Curtis Beach

Curtis Lee Beach (born July 22, 1990) is a retired American decathlete and a two-time NCAA heptathlon champion who holds the world heptathlon best in the 1000 meters.

Early life Beach was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the oldest son of Jeana King-Beach and David Beach.

From a young age, he showed athletic promise, joining a track club at eight and competing in his first decathlon at fourteen. At Albuquerque Academy, he won 17 individual New Mexico state titles and set national high school records in the pentathlon and decathlon (with both high school and international implements). In 2009, DyeStat declared him "the greatest US high school decathlete ever."

College Beach attended Duke University, where he became a two-time NCAA national champion in the heptathlon, winning in 2012 and 2014. In 2011, he set a collegiate record in the decathlon 1500 meters and finished second in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships. In 2010 and 2012, he set world heptathlon bests in the 1000 meters.

Professional career After graduating from Duke, Beach underwent Tommy John surgery, then for the next three years competed professionally for Nike. In 2017, he explored other events, including a focus on the 800 meters and the 400 meters hurdles.

Honors and awards Governor Bill Richardson declared July 1, 2009, to be "Curtis Lee Beach Day" in recognition of the day that Beach was named the 2009 Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. He received the Fair Play award for cheering on Ashton Eaton during the final leg of the decathlon 1500 meters at the 2012 US Olympic Trials. In 2015, he was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal bests Outdoor +Individual events Event Performance Location Date Long jump New York City June 14, 2013 200 meters 21.57 Claremont June 3, 2017 800 meters 1:47.36 New York City July 6, 2017 400m hurdles 49.83 Claremont June 3, 2017

+Combined events Event Performance Location Date Score Decathlon Des Moines June 9–10, 2011 8,084 points 100 meters 10.52 Chula Vista May 22, 2015 970 points Long jump Chula Vista May 22, 2015 1,022 points 400 meters 46.72 Raleigh April 19, 2013 972 points 110m hurdles 14.23 Azusa April 14, 2016 945 points Discus throw Eugene June 23, 2012 653 points Pole vault Austin March 28, 2013 941 points Javelin throw Des Moines June 10, 2011 565 points 1500 meters 3:59.13 Des Moines June 10, 2011 960 points Virtual Best Performance 8,523 points

Indoor +Individual events Event Performance Location Date 500 meters 1:01.50 New York City February 7, 2014 600 meters 1:16.38 Albuquerque March 4, 2017 800 meters 1:52.72 New York City March 15, 2009

+Combined events Event Performance Location Date Score Heptathlon Albuquerque March 14–15, 2014 6,190 points 60 meters 7.01 Crete, Nebraska February 26, 2016 879 points Shot put Portland March 18, 2016 675 points 60m hurdles 8.07 Crete, Nebraska February 27, 2016 964 points Virtual Best Performance 6,406 points

Heptathlon best