Duenas, Beckmann, Carlson Qualify for NCAA Track and Field Championships

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University student-athletes Hope Duenas (Jr., Covina, CA/Covina HS), Keaton Beckmann (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Keith Carlson (Sr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) have been selected for the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, set for Thursday, May 23 through Saturday, May 25 at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio. Duenas qualified in the women's discus throw, while Beckmann reached the NCAA Championships in the men's decathlon and Carlson advanced in the men's 5,000-meter run.

All three Willamette student-athletes earned their trips to the NCAA Championships by setting personal records. Duenas produced a personal record throw of 148' 11" in the discus at the West Coast Invitational hosted by Willamette on May 11. She also had several other marks during the season that would have made the cut for nationals. Beckmann qualified for the decathlon with a personal record score 6,516 at the 2019 Bearcat Invitational Multi on May 8 at Willamette. Carlson registered his personal record time of 14:27.27 in the 5,000 on May 3 at the Portland Twilight.

Duenas will be participating in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the second time. She competed at 2018 NCAA Championships at placed 20th in the discus. Carlson will be competing at the national level for the first time in track and field, but he has participated in the NCAA cross country meet three times. He placed 47th out of 280 studnet-athletes in the men's 8-kilometer race at the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Beckmann is making his first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Among those selected for the NCAA Championships, Duenas and Beckmann were ranked 11th on the performance list in their respective events. Carlson was ranked 19th in the men's 5,000-meter run.

Duenas will compete in the discus on Thursday. Beckmann will participate in the decathlon on Thursday and Friday. Carlson will compete in the 5,000 on Saturday.

The top 20 student-athletes in each individual men's event and the top 22 student-athletes in each women's event qualified for the NCAA Championships, along with the top 16 relay teams in each relay event. Student-athletes had to declare their intent to participate before the selections were announced this morning so that the NCAA could advance the next competitors on the performance list to fill each event.