It’s only fitting that Culver City High School’s best athlete is still competing. Culver City’s other teams have been eliminated from the playoffs but Kevin Beacham is still contending for the title of the best long jumper in the state of California.
Last Saturday Beacham set a school record when he leaped 24 feet and ¾ inches in the long jump in the Division II CIF finals at Cerritos Community College in Norwalk, California. His jump was good enough for second place in the division and fourth place overall. There are four divisions at the CIF finals and there were nine competitors in each division. Beacham will now compete in the CIF Masters meet this Friday at Cerritos College. The field events start at 4:30 p.m. and the running events begin at 6 p.m.
The Masters meet will consist of the best nine competitors in each event. The top six finishers in each event will advance to the State Meet at Buchanan High School in Clovis, California on Friday and Saturday June 6-7.
Beacham qualified for the Master’s Meet on his final jump last Saturday.
“All week I have been working hard to win this meet,” said Beacham last Saturday at Cerritos College. Beacham had to stay focused despite being surrounded by some of the best high school athletes in the nation. Athletes like Mater Dei’s Curtis Godin, who is one of the fastest high school sprinters in the United States and will be running for UCLA next year.
“I was a little nervous but when I got on the runway I just relaxed and concentrated on doing my best,” Beachman added.
His best was good enough to set a school record.
“That feels good because a lot of people that attended Culver City High School have not jumped that far,” he said. “When I get to the Masters Meet I want to win the whole thing and when I reach the State Meet my goal is the jump 26 feet.”
What helped Beacham get this far is the fact that he only had to concentrate on the long jump the past few weeks. During the regular track and field season he long jumped and ran the 100 meters and 400 and 1600 relays. Running the other events made him stronger in the long jump.
“Now I only have to focus on one event,” said Beacham.
Beacham, who plays three varsity sports credits hard work that has allowed him to be successful in football, basketball and track and field.
“I work really hard to be the best I can be and I have some really good coaches,” said Beacham.
His coaches are Jahmal Wright, Rayfield Beaton and veteran field events coach Tom Nakayama.
“They are good men and good coaches,” said Beacham. “If they were not coaching me I do not think I would have made it this far.”
