Beckmann and Thornton Receive All-Northwest Conference Honors

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University student-athletes Keaton Beckmann (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Katherine Thornton (Fy., Reno, NV/Reno HS) earned All-Northwest Conference honors during the 2021 NWC Track and Field Championships. Recognition as an All-NWC performer went to athletes who placed in the top three of an individual event or participated on a relay team that finished in the top three.

Willamette Track & Field All-NWC Honors:

Keaton Beckmann (Men's Track and Field), Decathlon, 2nd place, 6,788 points

Beckmann set a personal record and moved into second place all-time at Willamette with a score of 6,788 in the decathlon at the NWC Multi-Event Championships. He registered five wins and three second-place finishes in the 10 events. He scored over 700 points in four events, with two events over 800 points. He earned 894 points in the 100-meter dash and recorded 864 points in the 400-meter dash. His decathlon score is currently fifth on this year's NCAA Division III performance list. Beckmann moved into second on WU's all-time list in the 200-meter dash at the NWC Championships with a time of 21.82 seconds in the prelims. He missed the finals due to an injury.

Katherine Thornton (Women's Track and Field), 400-meter Hurdles, 3rd place, 1:07.17

Thornton achieved a time of 1:07.17 for a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles at the NWC Championships. Her previous best of 1:08.46 was set at the NWC Meet during the preliminary heats. In the long jump, Thornton's top distance was a personal record of 16' 3.75" as she took fifth place.