Curtis Beach

Curtis Beach

Beach in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Curtis Lee Beach
Nationality	United States
Born	(1990-07-22) July 22, 1990 (age 35) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm) [1]
Weight	166 lb (75 kg) [1]
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Decathlon
College team	Duke Blue Devils (2009–14)
Now coaching	PLNU 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] USATF Indoor Championships 2016 Portland Heptathlon

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 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). ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} In 2009, 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 heptathlon, winning in 2012 and 2014. ^{[12] [13]} In 2011, he set a collegiate record in the decathlon 1500 meters and finished second in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships. ^{[14] [15]} In 2010 and 2012, he set back-to-back world records in the heptathlon 1000 meters. ^{[16] [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 the heptathlon at the U.S. indoor national championships and placed fourth in the heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships. ^{[22] [23]} In 2017, he explored other events, including a focus on the 800 meters and the 400 meters hurdles. ^[24]

Post-career

Beach announced his retirement from the decathlon in April 2021. ^[25] 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] [26] [27]} 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. ^{[28] [29] [30]} In 2015, he was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame. ^{[31] [32]}

Personal bests

Outdoor

Individual events

Event	Performance	Location	Date
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
400m hurdles	49.83	Claremont	June 3, 2017

Combined events

Event	Performance	Location	Date	Score	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	[33]
Long jump	7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)(+1.3 m/s)	Chula Vista	May 22, 2015	1,022 points	[33]
Shot put	12.64 m (41 ft 5+1⁄2 in)	Chula Vista	May 22, 2015	645 points	[33]
High jump	2.05 m (6 ft 8+1⁄2 in)	Eugene	June 25, 2009	850 points	[34]
400 meters	46.72	Raleigh	April 19, 2013	972 points	[35]
110m 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	[36]
Pole vault	5.10 m (16 ft 8+3⁄4 in)	Austin	March 28, 2013	941 points	[37]
Javelin throw	48.42 m (158 ft 10+1⁄4 in)	Des Moines	June 10, 2011	565 points	[38]
1500 meters	3:59.13	Des Moines	June 10, 2011	960 points	[39]
Virtual Best Performance				8,523 points	—

Indoor

Individual events

Event	Performance	Location	Date	Ref.
500 meters	1:01.50	New York City	February 7, 2014	[40]
600 meters	1:16.38	Albuquerque	March 4, 2017	[41]
800 meters	1:52.72	New York City	March 15, 2009	[42]

Combined events

Event	Performance	Location	Date	Score	Ref.
Heptathlon	—	Albuquerque	March 14–15, 2014	6,190 points	—
60 meters	7.01	Crete, Nebraska	February 26, 2016	879 points	[22]
Long jump	7.67 m (25 ft 1+3⁄4 in)	Albuquerque	March 14, 2014	977 points	[43]
Shot put	13.12 m (43 ft 1⁄2 in)	Portland	March 18, 2016	675 points	[23]
High jump	2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)	Albuquerque	March 1, 2013	906 points	[44]
60m hurdles	8.07	Crete, Nebraska	February 27, 2016	964 points	[22]
Pole vault	5.10 m (16 ft 8+3⁄4 in)	Crete, Nebraska	February 27, 2016	941 points	[22]
1000 meters	2:23.63	Nampa	March 10, 2012	1,064 points	[45] [a]
Virtual Best Performance				6,406 points	—

^a Heptathlon best

References

1. "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. "Men's Decathlon". Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
16. "Freshman Sets World Record in Heptathlon 1,000m". goduke.com. March 13, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
17. "Beach Claims 2012 NCAA Indoor Heptathlon Crown". goduke.com. March 10, 2012.
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. Heiduk, Tim (December 4, 2024). "PLNU TRACK & FIELD ADDS CURTIS BEACH TO COACHING STAFF". plnusealions.com.
22. "2016 USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships". flipsnack.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
23. "HEPTATHLON FINAL RESULTS" (PDF). iaaf.org. 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. Wright, Rick (April 24, 2021). "Beach decides it is time to chase a different goal (w/ photo gallery)". abqjournal.com.
26. Beach gains national student-athlete honor. July 1, 2009 – via YouTube.
27. "49TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2010" (PDF). nmlegis.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
28. "Beach's Finishes 11th at 2012 Olympic Trials". goduke.com. June 23, 2012.
29. Ashton Eaton smashes decathlon world record at 2012 Olympic trials. June 5, 2020. Event occurs at 9:43 – via YouTube.
30. "Decathletes Ashton Eaton and Curtis Beach receive Fair Play awards". olympics.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
31. "New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame" (PDF). nmshof.org. p. 26. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
32. @1017theteam (March 1, 2015). "On the show, @curtis_beach joins @HenryTafoya at the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame banquet! #nmshof" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
33. "OTC-CV Elite #2". runnercard.com. May 22, 2015.
34. "Curtis Beach Day 1 - USA Outdoor Championships 2009". runnerspace.com. June 25, 2009. Event occurs at 0:20.
35. "Duke Performs Well in Shot Put, Heptathlon at ACC's". goduke.com. April 19, 2013.
36. "Beach Finishes 11th at 2012 Olympic Trials". goduke.com. June 23, 2012.
37. "Duke's Curtis Beach wins Texas Relays decathlon". apnews.com. March 28, 2013.
38. "Men's Decathlon". flashresults.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
39. "Mens Decathlon Highlights - NCAA DI Outdoor Championships 2011". runnerspace.com (subscription required). June 25, 2012. Event occurs at 2:54.
40. "Curtis Beach won the college section of the 500 in 1:01.5 at the Armory Collegiate Invite". runnerspace.com. February 7, 2014.
41. "2017 Results - USATF Indoor Championships". March 3, 2017. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017.
42. "National Scholastic Indoor Championships 2009". milesplit.com. March 15, 2009.
43. "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.
44. "Curtis Beach 2.11m att2 make Mens Heptathlon High Jump - USA Indoor Track and Field Championships 2013". hokaoneonepostalnationals.com. June 1, 2013.
45. 2012 NCAA HEP 1000M Curtis Beach 2:23.63 World Record. March 11, 2012 – via YouTube.

External links

• Curtis Beach at World Athletics
• Duke Blue Devils bio
• Faces in the Crowd