By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University track and field student-athlete Keaton Beckmann (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) has received the J.H. Booth Award for 2020-21. The J.H. Booth Award is presented annually to the senior men's student-athlete who most excelled in all areas of their career at Willamette by exemplifying and demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship, and athleticism.
During his career at Willamette, Beckmann competed at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships twice. He placed 15th in the decathlon in 2021 and took 11th place in the decathlon in 2019 while setting what was then his personal-best score of 6,519 points.
This year, Beckmann moved into fifth place on Willamette's all-time list in the decathlon with a personal record score of 6,788 points while taking second place at the 2021 Northwest Conference Track and Field Multi-Event Championships. His score ranked second in the West Region and fifth all-time at Willamette.
Beckmann was named All-West Region in the decathlon three times (2018, 2019, 2021). He also received All-West Region honors in the long jump twice (2019, 2021) and one time each in the 100-meter dash (2021), 200-meter dash (2021), and 400-meter dash (2021). He qualified for All-West Region recognition in all five events this year. No All-Region teams were announced in 2020.
During his career at Willamette, Beckmann earned All-Northwest Conference honors six times. He was All-NWC in the decathlon (2nd place) this year. He received All-NWC status in the long jump (2nd place), the javelin throw (3rd place), and on the 4 x 400-meter relay team (3rd place) in 2019. He was an All-NWC choice in the long jump (3rd place) and the 400-meter dash (3rd place) in 2018. Beckmann was named Northwest Conference Men's Track and Field Freshman of the Year in 2018.
Beckmann majored in Chemistry at Willamette and completed a virtual internship in public health. He earned NCAA Division III All-Academic status from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Award winners for 2020-21 have not yet been announced. Student-athletes earn the All-Academic award through a combination of academic and athletic success. Each All-Academic athlete must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher (4.0 scale) while either competing at the NCAA Division III Championships or by finishing in the top 50 nationally in an individual event or in the top 35 in a relay event.
While participating as a track and field athlete for the Bearcats, Beckmann served as a team captain. He also provided leadership through his consistently strong performances in the many events required to successfully compete in the decathlon.
This spring, Beckmann ranked second in the West Region in the decathlon, as well as the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. In the 100-meter dash, he registered a personal record of 10.85 seconds to move into fifth place on Willamette's all-time list. In the 200-meter dash, Beckmann earned a time of 21.82 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in Willamette history, trailing only Rex Putnam, who completed the race in 21.74 seconds in 1941.
Beckmann completed the regular season ranked fourth in the West Region in the 400-meter dash with a personal record time of 48.94 seconds that is tied for 10th all-time at WU. He was fifth in the West Region in the long jump. His top distance of the season was 22' 9.75" at the Willamette vs. Portland Dual. His career-best long jump mark of 22' 11.75" in 2019 is seventh on WU's all-time list.
Other recent winners of the J.H. Booth Award were swimmer Alika Masei in 2017, baseball player Eric Del Prado in 2018, cross country and track and field runner Keith Carlson and basketball player Jordan Jenkins in 2019, and swimmer Derek Ludwig in 2020.
Keaton Beckmann's Career-Best Marks
100-meter Dash, 10.85, 2021 (NWC Prelims), 5th All-Time at Willamette
200-meter Dash, 21.82, 2021 (NWC Prelims), 2nd All-Time at Willamette
400-meter Dash, 48.94, 2021 (NWC Prelims), 10th (tie) All-Time at Willamette
1,500-meter Run, 4:42.38, 2019 (NCAA Decathlon)
110-meter Hurdles, 15.30, 2019 (Bearcat Invitational Multi)
Long Jump, 22' 11.75", 2019 (Willamette Opener), 7th All-Time at Willamette
High Jump, 5' 11.25", 2021 (Willamette vs. Corban Dual #1)
Pole Vault, 12' 3.25", 2021 (NWC Multi-Event)
Shot Put, 40' 6.75" 2021 (NCAA Decathlon)
Discus Throw, 120' 8", 2021 (NCAA Decathlon)
Javelin Throw, 183' 0", 2019 (NWC Prelims)
Decathlon, 6,788 points, 2021 (NWC Multi-Event), 5th All-time at Willamette
