Beckmann Grabs 9th on NCAA Division III List with Score of 6,516 in Decathlon

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Keaton Beckmann (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) of Willamette University earned a score of 6,516 to win the decathlon at the 2019 Bearcat Invitational Multi and move into ninth on the NCAA Division III performance list, as the competition ended on Wednesday, May 8. Adrian Schnee (Fr., Kalispell, MT/Glacier HS) of Willamette took second place in the heptathlon with 3,956 points. 

Beckmann set a personal record for the decathlon and Schnee set a personal record in the heptathlon. In addition, Beckmann surged up to eighth on Willamette's all-time list in the decathlon, while Schnee took over ninth on the Bearcats' all-time list in the heptathlon.

Prior to the Bearcat Invitational Multi, Beckmann's top score in the decathlon was 6,236 at the Portland Twilight on May 11, 2018. Beckmann did not compete in the decathlon earlier this season due to an injury. Schnee's previous top score in the heptathlon was 3,828 at the NWC Multi-Event Championships on April 15-16, 2019.

Student-athletes in NCAA Division III have until May 16 to register times and marks before selections are made for this year's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The top 20 student-athletes in each men's event and the top 22 student-athletes in each individual women's event will qualify, along with the top 16 relay teams in each relay event. The NCAA Championships will be held at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio, from May 23-25. 

A total of five student-athletes competed throughout the decathlon. Beckmann won six events, as he took first in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, 400-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, and javelin throw. His overall score of 6,516 was followed by Berkley Hill of George Fox University in second at 6,438. Davis Smith of GFU was third at 6,286.

Beckmann earned scores above 790 in four of the wins. His top score was 827 for his time of 11.15 in the 100-meter dash. He scored 814 with a personal record time of 15.30 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. He added 797 points with a time of 50.39 seconds in the 400-meter dash, and registered 792 points with a top distance of 22' 8" in the long jump.

His previous top time in the 110-meter hurdles was 15.54 at the 2019 Willamette Opener on March 2. He missed his personal record of 11.13 by just 0.02 in the 100-meter dash, and was just 3.75" short of his personal record of 22' 11.75" in the long jump.

Brian Peck (Jr., Reno, NV/Reno HS) also competed in the decathlon for the Bearcats. He won the discus throw with a personal record distance of 106' 7". His previous top throw covered 103' 11" at the Boxer Combined Event on March 25-26. Peck finished the 100-meter dash in 11.89 seconds and completed the 1,500-meter run in 4:46.10. He registered a distance of 20' 9.75" in the long jump, missing his personal record of 20' 10" by just 0.25.

Three student-athletes participated in all seven events in the heptathlon. Alissa Swilley of George Fox took first place with 4,424 points. Schnee's second place score of 3,956 included wins in the 200-meter dash and the 800-meter run. Kalina Buhler of George Fox was third overall with a score of 3,655.

Schnee won the 200-meter dash in a personal record of 26.95 seconds. Her previous best time was 27.42 seconds at this year's NWC Multi-Event Championships. She won the 800-meter run in 2:36.08. She completed the 100-meter hurdles in 16.58 seconds, cleared 4' 11.75" in the high jump, and covered 16' 3" in the long jump.

She scored 716 points in the 200-meter dash. She tacked on 645 points in the 100-meter hurdles and 644 points in the high jump. She earned 619 points in the 800-meter run.

Willamette will host the West Coast Invitational on Saturday, May 11 at Charles Bowles Track. Action begins at 2 p.m. (PDT) in the field events and at 5:50 p.m. in the track events.