By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's Keaton Beckmann (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) has been chosen to compete in the decathlon at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, next week. The first five events in the decathlon will be held at North Carolina A&T State University on Thursday, May 27, starting at 10:30 a.m. EDT/7:30 a.m. PDT with the final five events set for Friday, May 28, starting at 10 a.m. EDT/7 a.m. PDT.

The NCAA selected 17 athletes for the NCAA Championships in each men's event. The top 14 teams in each relay event also were selected.

Beckmann enters the NCAA Championships ranked fifth on this year's NCAA Division III performance list in the decathlon. He achieved his personal record score of 6,788 points while placing second at the Northwest Conference Multi-Event Championships on May 3-4. Beckmann's decathlon score is fifth on Willamette's all-time list.

In addition to Beckmann, the NCAA decathlon will feature five other NWC student-athletes. Nicholas McGill of Whitworth University, who won the NWC decathlon title this spring, is ranked fourth on the NCAA Division III performance list with a score of 6,838. The NWC also will be represented by three decathletes from George Fox University and one decathlete from Linfield University.

Beckmann previously competed at the NCAA Championships in the decathlon in 2019. He finished in 11th place with a score of 6,519.