Curtis Beach

Curtis Beach
Beach in 2016
Personal information
Full nameCurtis Lee Beach
Nationality United States
Born (1990-07-22) July 22, 1990
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]
Weight166 lb (75 kg)[1]
Sport
SportAthletics
EventDecathlon
College teamDuke Blue Devils (2009–14)
Now coachingPLNU Sea Lions (2025–)
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Decathlon: 8,084 (2011)
Heptathlon: 6,190 (2014)
Medal record
Representing the United States
Pan American Junior Championships
2009 Port-of-Spain Decathlon[2]

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 and high school

Beach was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the oldest son of Jeana King-Beach and David Beach.[3] From a young age, he showed athletic promise, joining a track club at eight and competing in his first decathlon at fourteen.[4][5][6] At Albuquerque Academy, he became a dominant force in track and field, winning 17 individual New Mexico state titles and setting national high school records in both the pentathlon and decathlon (with both high school and international implements).[7][8][9][10] After graduating, DyeStat declared him "the greatest US high school decathlete ever."[11]

College

Beach attended Duke University, where he became a two-time NCAA national champion in the indoor heptathlon, winning in 2012 and 2014.[12][13] In 2011, he set a collegiate record in the decathlon 1500 meters, and then set back-to-back world records in the heptathlon 1000 meters in 2010 and 2012.[14][15][16] He also secured a second-place finish in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships in 2011.[17]

Professional career

After graduating from Duke, Beach underwent Tommy John surgery,[18][19] then for the next three years competed professionally for Nike.[20][21] In 2016, he won a U.S. indoor national championship and placed fourth at the World Indoor Championships.[22][23] He also explored other events, including a focus on the 400 meters hurdles in 2017.[24]

Personal bests

Information from World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.

Outdoor

As of June 26, 2025
Event Performance Location Date Ref.
Long jump 7.88 m (25 ft 10 in) (+0.0 m/s) New York City June 14, 2013
200 meters 21.57 (+1.8 m/s) Claremont June 3, 2017
800 meters 1:47.36 New York City July 6, 2017
400 meters hurdles 49.83 Claremont June 3, 2017
Event Performance Location Date Points Ref.
Decathlon — Des Moines June 9–10, 2011 8,084 points —
100 meters 10.52 (+1.9 m/s) Chula Vista May 22, 2015 970 points [25]
Long jump 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in) (+1.3 m/s) Chula Vista May 22, 2015 1,022 points [25]
Shot put 12.64 m (41 ft 5+1⁄2 in) Chula Vista May 22, 2015 645 points [25]
High jump 2.05 m (6 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Eugene June 25, 2009 850 points [26]
400 meters 46.72 Raleigh April 19, 2013 972 points [27]
110 meters hurdles 14.23 (+1.0 m/s) Azusa April 14, 2016 945 points
Discus throw 39.44 m (129 ft 4+3⁄4 in) Eugene June 23, 2012 653 points [28]
Pole vault 5.10 m (16 ft 8+3⁄4 in) Austin March 28, 2013 941 points [29]
Javelin throw 48.42 m (158 ft 10+1⁄4 in) Des Moines June 10, 2011 565 points [30]
1500 meters 3:59.13 Des Moines June 10, 2011 960 points [31]
Virtual Best Performance 8,523 points —

Indoor

As of June 26, 2025
Event Performance Location Date Ref.
500 meters 1:01.50 New York City February 7, 2014 [32]
600 meters 1:16.38 Albuquerque March 4, 2017 [33]
800 meters 1:52.72 New York City March 15, 2009 [34]
Event Performance Location Date Points Ref.
Heptathlon — Albuquerque March 14–15, 2014 6,190 points —
60 meters 7.01 Crete February 26, 2016 879 points [23]
Long jump 7.67 m (25 ft 1+3⁄4 in) Albuquerque March 14, 2014 977 points [35]
Shot put 13.12 m (43 ft 1⁄2 in) Portland March 18, 2016 675 points [22]
High jump 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Albuquerque March 1, 2013 906 points [36]
60 meters hurdles 8.07 Crete February 27, 2016 964 points [23]
Pole vault 5.10 m (16 ft 8+3⁄4 in) Crete February 27, 2016 941 points [23]
1000 meters 2:23.63[a] Nampa March 10, 2012 1,064 points [37]
Virtual Best Performance 6,406 points —
a Heptathlon best

Post-career

Beach announced his retirement from the decathlon in April 2021.[38] He is currently an assistant coach for the women's track & field team at Point Loma Nazarene University, primarily working with vertical and horizontal jumps.[21]

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.[1][39][40] 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.[41][42][43] In 2015, he was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.[44][45]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Curtis Beach". Reuters. 2009-07-01. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  2. ^ "Event 102 Men Decathlon". August 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  3. ^ "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks" (PDF). congress.gov. February 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Start". curtisbeach.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  5. ^ "#PiosXCTF Happy Hour with Curtis Beach". runnerspace.com. May 16, 2020. Event occurs at 2:18.
  6. ^ "Episode 68 - Curtis Beach, Former Pro Decathlete and current Volunteer Coach at Duke". podbean.com. June 2021. Event occurs at 1:00.
  7. ^ "National Scholastic Indoor Championships 2009". milesplit.com. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  8. ^ Kirby Lee (April 12, 2009). "Home of national records". IAAF. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  9. ^ "Curtis Beach 7909 HS Decathlon US Record - Arcadia Multis 2009". arcadiainvitational.org. April 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "H.S. Decathlon Record, Curtis Beach, 7,909". armorytrack.com. April 11, 2009.
  11. ^ John and Donna Dye (June 6, 2009). "Curtis Beach ends all doubt - he is the greatest US high school decathlete ever". dyestat.com. DyeStat. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009.
  12. ^ "NCAA Division I Indoor Championships". tfrrs.org. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  13. ^ "Men Heptathlon". flashresults.com. March 15, 2014.
  14. ^ "NCAA Division I Championships, Day Three As-It-Happens Notes". ustfccca.org. June 10, 2011.
  15. ^ "Freshman Sets World Record in Heptathlon 1,000m". goduke.com. March 13, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  16. ^ "Beach Claims 2012 NCAA Indoor Heptathlon Crown". goduke.com. March 10, 2012.
  17. ^ "Men's Decathlon". Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  18. ^ Beach, Curtis [@curtis_beach] (June 8, 2014). "Aaaand off to Pensacola for elbow surgery... Sad to miss out on the NCAA decathlon reunion, but I'll be back at it soon enough" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "The Most Important Man in Sports". playboy.com. October 2015.
  20. ^ Bellino, Meg (April 10, 2015). "Curtis Beach Signs With Nike". flotrack.org.
  21. ^ a b Heiduk, Tim (December 4, 2024). "PLNU TRACK & FIELD ADDS CURTIS BEACH TO COACHING STAFF". plnusealions.com.
  22. ^ a b "HEPTATHLON FINAL RESULTS" (PDF). iaaf.org. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d "2016 USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships". flipsnack.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  24. ^ Dutch, Taylor (July 11, 2017). "Former Decathlete Curtis Beach Is Making His Own Way In The Hurdles". flotrack.org.
  25. ^ a b c "OTC-CV Elite #2". runnercard.com. May 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "Curtis Beach Day 1 - USA Outdoor Championships 2009". runnerspace.com. June 25, 2009. Event occurs at 0:20.
  27. ^ "Duke Performs Well in Shot Put, Heptathlon at ACC's". goduke.com. April 19, 2013.
  28. ^ "Beach Finishes 11th at 2012 Olympic Trials". goduke.com. June 23, 2012.
  29. ^ "Duke's Curtis Beach wins Texas Relays decathlon". apnews.com. March 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "Men's Decathlon". flashresults.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  31. ^ "Mens Decathlon Highlights - NCAA DI Outdoor Championships 2011". runnerspace.com (subscription required). June 25, 2012. Event occurs at 2:54.
  32. ^ "Curtis Beach won the college section of the 500 in 1:01.5 at the Armory Collegiate Invite". runnerspace.com. February 7, 2014.
  33. ^ "2017 Results - USATF Indoor Championships". March 3, 2017. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017.
  34. ^ "National Scholastic Indoor Championships 2009". milesplit.com. March 15, 2009.
  35. ^ "Curtis Beach 1st Men's Heptathlon 6190 Points #3 a-t Collegian - NCAA D1 Indoor Championships 2014". runnerspace.com. March 15, 2014. Event occurs at 0:27.
  36. ^ "Curtis Beach 2.11m att2 make Mens Heptathlon High Jump - USA Indoor Track and Field Championships 2013". hokaoneonepostalnationals.com. June 1, 2013.
  37. ^ 2012 NCAA HEP 1000M Curtis Beach 2:23.63 World Record. March 11, 2012 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ Wright, Rick (April 24, 2021). "Beach decides it is time to chase a different goal (w/ photo gallery)". abqjournal.com.
  39. ^ Beach gains national student-athlete honor. July 1, 2009 – via YouTube.
  40. ^ "49TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2010" (PDF). nmlegis.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "Beach's Finishes 11th at 2012 Olympic Trials". goduke.com. June 23, 2012.
  42. ^ Ashton Eaton smashes decathlon world record at 2012 Olympic trials. June 5, 2020. Event occurs at 9:43 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ "Decathletes Ashton Eaton and Curtis Beach receive Fair Play awards". olympics.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  44. ^ "New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame" (PDF). nmshof.org. p. 26. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  45. ^ @1017theteam (March 1, 2015). "On the show, @curtis_beach joins @HenryTafoya at the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame banquet! #nmshof" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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