NCAA Champion and 8,000pt+ Decathlete Curtis Beach, two-time Olympian and USA Record Holder Sharon Day-Monroe, and Olympic Bobsledder Evan Weinstock set to compete in 10 event challenge on Saturday, January 12; free youth 3 event 30 minute challenge and luncheon reception to follow
Santa Barbara, Calif. (January 7, 2019) – The field for the Thoreson 30 Minute Decathlon on Saturday, January 12 has been set, headlined by a pair of Olympians and NCAA Champions. Curtis Beach, a Duke University graduate and 2012 NCAA Champion in the Indoor Pentathlon and boasting an 8,084pt Decathlon best will be joined by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo alum Sharon Day Monroe, the 2005 NCAA High Jump Champion, 2008 Olympian (High Jump), 2012 Olympian (Heptathlon) and USA Indoor Pentathlon record holder; Sharon holds a Heptathlon best of 6,550pts. Joining them will be Evan Weinstock, a 2018 Olympian in the Bobsled, who returns to his Decathlon roots, where he scored a personal best and Brown University school record 7,557pts in 2015.
In addition to the trio, SBTC Assistant Coach Tom FitzSimons, SBTC and UCSB alum Derek Masterson as well as Westmont graduates Anthony Cota, Brett Shagena and Travis Smelley will toe the line for this 10 event, 30 minute challenge.
Organized by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) and hosted at Wesmont College, the event honors David Thoreson, a national class Decathlete and teacher at La Colina Junior High School who created the 30 minute challenge in the 1970s. It will begin at 10:00am followed by a free 30 minute, three event Youth Triple at 11:00am and a luncheon reunion at 11:30am, also hosted at Westmont’s Thorrington Field.
The event is free for spectators and participants thanks to the Warkentin Family. Youth interested in competing or those participating in the luncheon reunion can RSVP on the event’s webpage.
ABOUT THE 30 MINUTE DECATHLON
Events will be competed in the same order as in a traditional Decathlon–100 meters, Long Jump, Shot Put High Jump, 400 meters, 110/100 meters hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin Throw, and 1500 meters.
Due to the condensed schedule athletes will begin on their own in the 100 meters, three minutes apart from each other. At their individual 30 minute mark the athlete’s 1500m time will begin at 30:00, regardless if the athlete is present.
Each Decathlete will have a "Dec-Caddy" to support them during the event, keeping track of gear, transition times and more.
START TIMES & COMPETING ATHLETE BIOS (in reverse order)
10:21am - Curtis Beach
College: Duke, Class of 2014
Decathlon Best: 8084pts
Strengths & Accolades
NCAA Indoor Heptathlon Champion
4th at 2016 Indoor Worlds
WR Heptathlon 1000m
2nd Fastest Decathlon 1500m of All Time
Currently training for the decathlon professionally
Potential Weaknesses
Third attempts are not his ally here
400m ability will be debilitated by the short break allowed before the 110m Hurdles
Spent 2017 & 2018 training for the 400mH & 800m, while everyone else was training for the Heptathlon/Decathlon
10:18am - Sharon Day-Monroe
College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Class of 2008
Heptathlon Best: 6,550pts
Strengths & Accolades
2x Olympian (High Jump 2008 & Heptathlon 2012)
NCAA High Jump Champion
7x USA Champion
USA Record Holder in the Indoor Pentathlon
Nobody else in field has done a 30-minute Decathlon either
Potential Weakness
This isn’t a Heptathlon!
Has practiced Pole Vault for about 3 weeks total
Hasn’t done a Decathlon
10:15am - Tom FitzSimons
College: Mount St Mary's University, Class of 2012
Decathlon Best: 7791pts
Strengths & Accolades
Bronze Medalist at the 2014 USATF Championships
NCAA All-American
2x Team USA (Thorpe Cup)
Has come out of retirement before
Amazing ability to change shoes
Potential Weaknesses
Worried about left quad detaching from femur at the 21st minute
10:12am - Derek Masterson
College: UCSB, Class of 2013
Decathlon Best: 7631pts
Strengths & Accolades
2x Top 10 Finisher at USA Championships
NCAA Championships Qualifier
HUCKS all three implements
Always nimble - natural athlete
Potential Weaknesses
Might be 20+ pounds heavier than his old playing weight
Doesn’t know his steps, nor even know what pole he will use in the vault?!
Below average ability of changing his event shoes
10:09am - Evan Weinstock
College: Brown, Class of 2014
Decathlon Best: 7557pts
Strengths & Accolades
2018 Team USA Olympian in the 4-Man Bobsled
Nevada 4A High School Footballer of the Year
As explosive as he's ever been
Brown University School Record Holder
Potential Weaknesses
He made the Olympics in the Bobsled, not Decathlon
His massive Clean PR won't help 50% of the events
Might outweigh Derek, which won’t help in jumps or throws
10:06am - Anthony Cota
College: Westmont, Class of 2018
Decathlon Best: 6592pts
Strengths & Accolades
6’11 High Jumper
Multiple Time NAIA All American
2018 GSAC Conference Meet MVP
Potential Weaknesses
Threw out all his old event spikes months ago
Hasn’t worked out much since graduation
10:03am - Brett Shagena
College: Westmont, Class of 2018
Decathlon Best: 5093pts
Strengths & Accolades
GSAC Conference Champion in the Pole Vault
Not his first decathlon
Overly confident
Potential Weaknesses
Overly confident
Only gets to spend 3 minutes pole vaulting
10:00am - Travis Smelley
College: Westmont College, Class of 2018
Decathlon Best: 4936pts
Strengths & Accolades
Will sacrifice his body to try and win the 400m and 1500m despite consequence
Doesn't feel pain, ever
Potential Weaknesses
Hurdles are still 42 inches
Discus requires a spin to go far
He’s the first one to go
About the Santa Barbara Track Club
The Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) hosted at Westmont College aims to provide a pathway to the podium for athletes of all ages and abilities. The SBTC is comprised of Olympic and aspiring Olympic Track & Field athletes, a Youth Track Club as well as community members seeking to reach their highest potential through group and private training.