THIS YEAR: Senior thrower Brad Beckwith specializes in discus, where he has blossomed under the tutelage of Olympian and Cougar coach Mike Barnett ... Ascended to third on the program's career top-10 list in his specialty behind program legends Ade Olukoju and Christian Okoye ... After competing as a senior during indoor season in weight throw and shot put events, will likely redshirt the outdoor season of 2014 in order to compete in 2015.
2013: Qualified to compete in three events (discus, hammer, shot put) at National Christian College Athletic Association outdoor championships in Joliet, Ill., earning NCCAA All-American honors in discus and hammer ... At nationals, placed second in discus with a throw of 165-feet, 4-inches, third in hammer with a personal-record throw of 168-feet, and sixth in shot put with a personal-record 52-feet, 0.5-inches ... In all three events, turned in his best mark of the meet in the finals to help lead Azusa Pacific to a team national title ... Registered a career-best 173-feet, 10-inches, which ranks third on the program career top-10 list, to win the discus at the Pacific West Conference championships ... Also finished second at PacWest championships in shot put and hammer throw ... Helped lead Cougars to the NCCAA indoor national title, placing fifth in the weight throw with a personal-best 53-feet, 7-inches and eighth in shot put (49-feet, 7.25-inches).
2012: Earned NAIA All-American honors in the discus, placing fifth with a throw of 166-feet, 10-inches at the NAIA outdoor championships in Marion, Ind. ... Claimed the Golden State Athletic Conference title in discus, adding performances of third place in hammer and sixth in shot put to help lead Azusa Pacific to the GSAC team title ...Threw season-best 128-feet, 6-inches in the hammer at Pomona-Pitzer and 41-feet, 0.25-inches in shot put at the GSAC championships in Azusa ... During indoor season, had a season-best in the weight throw of 45-feet, 11.25-inches.
2011: Competed during outdoor season, qualifying for NAIA national championships in the discus ... Threw his season-best 154-feet, 3-inches to win the discus at the Mangrum Invitational, which was just his second meet of collegiate competition ... Threw 151-feet, 5-inches to place 17th at the NAIA outdoor championships ... Also threw javelin in three competitions, turning in a season-best 170-feet, 1-inch in his first-ever collegiate meet at Point Loma.
HIGH SCHOOL: Competed just one season in track and field at Glendora (Calif.) High for head coach Bob Ramsey but it was quite a season ... As a 2010 senior was named the team's most valuable thrower after winning the Sierra League discus with a career-best heave of 157-feet, 10-inches, more than 12 feet ahead of the second-place finisher and the fourth-best throw in Glendora High history ... Finished fourth in the shot at the league finals ... Posted a personal-best 46-feet, 5-inches in the shot.
PERSONAL: Born Dec. 15, 1991 to Dennis (real estate broker) and Rhonda (psychologist) Beckwith, who are both Azusa Pacific alumni ... His father now works at Azusa Pacific, serving as associate director of development in the office of university advancement ... Has an older sister (Brooke) and an older brother (Brandon, who played 2 years on Azusa Pacific's football team) ... His uncle (Ryan Rienstra) and aunt (Rolynn Rienstra) both played basketball at Azusa Pacific in the 1990s ... Majoring in applied exercise science and would like to pursue a career in physical therapy after graduating ... Enjoys playing basketball, lifting weights, cooking, playing drums, and riding motorcycles.
