ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Teenage track and field prodigy Curtis Beach has a quick smile, a curly auburn haircut and the potential to someday carry the title of World’s Greatest Athlete.

“He speaks to the future of our event,” former Olympic and three-time world decathlon champion Dan O’Brien says.
Beach, who turns 19 next month, broke a 16-year-old national high school record in April, scoring 7,909 points at a meet in Arcadia, Calif. He’s the first U.S. high school athlete to surpass 7,500.
Bound for Duke University and perhaps the Olympics down the road, Beach competes in his next decathlon Thursday and Friday at the Great Southwest Track & Field Classic in Albuquerque.
“I’m going into it with the same mentality as Arcadia — have fun with it, do the best I can in each event and see what happens,” he said.
Beach, a grandnephew of former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King, has no shortage of athletic talent, but those close to him say his success is rooted in a relentless work ethic.
O’Brien recalled meeting Beach several years ago at Dwight Stone’s camp. Beach was a high school sophomore and O’Brien noticed a kid who asked a lot of questions — about training, about competing, about track and field history.
“Look at Tiger Woods,” O’Brien said. “He knew who won every Masters before he played it. He sat and dreamed about which way the greens would break in the final round. That’s Curtis, only with track and field. He’s a student of the sport.”
Beach sees himself doing big things.
He speaks about someday holding the world decathlon record. His first shot at the Olympics might come in 2016, but Beach believes he’ll compete at the 2012 London Olympics, when he will be a 22-year-old college junior.
“I’ve believed it was realistic since I was 7 or 8 years old,” he said. “No one else really has talked about it until recently, since I’ve been doing these big performances, but I’ve always believed it’s achievable.”
Beach said he doesn’t have much of a social life, concentrating on school and track. He works out with five specialty coaches, spreading his daily routine across the city.
Beach has run 47.99 seconds in the 400 meters and gone 15 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault, 6-9› in the high jump and 23-10€ in the long jump. Most of his improvement needs to come in the throwing events.
He chose Duke — not known as a track power — for academics and to work with assistant coach Shawn Wilbourn, a former world-class decathlete who is known for helping throwers.
There will be an adjustment from high school to Olympic standards, such as heavier shots and discuses. Academy coach Adam Kedge believes it won’t be a problem once Beach gets into Duke’s weightlifting program.
Meanwhile, Beach worked out Tuesday under hurdles coach Stacey Price’s guidance, practicing on the 39-inch high school hurdles and 42-inch college and international height.
“He scored 7,909 using high school implements,” O’Brien said. “If he turns around and scores 7,500 or 7,400 with college implements, I give him a shot to go 8,000 the next year. These progressions take time.”
Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic holds the world record of 9,026 points.
Beach started in track as a middle-distance runner, unlike many athletes who approach the decathlon after success in the sprints and throws or the hurdles and jumps. It gives Beach an unconventional love for the event most decathletes dread — the 1,500 meters.
His personal best of 4:09.48 seconds is almost a minute faster than the 5:06.59 turned in at the Beijing Olympics by United States gold medalist Bryan Clay.
“Most decathletes, we enjoy it like a root canal,” O’Brien said of the 1,500. “We’re happy when it’s done.”
Beach credits his background as a middle-distance runner and competing with Academy’s cross country team for his ability to embrace the 1,500 — and the pain that comes with it.
“If you’re trained to do it, then it’s easier to push yourself,” he said. “Fortunately, I have the cross country background and I can do it, and I can do it when a lot’s on the line or when nothing’s on the line.”
His strength in the 1,500 is reminiscent of another great American decathlete. Late in the school year, Beach was summoned to the office and handed a message. The telephone number ended with 1-9-7-6, and he returned the call from Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic champion who was known for wiping out competitors in the decathlon’s final event.
“We talked about how there are very few guys who can push themselves in the 1,500 meters,” Beach said. “It was a really cool conversation. You can’t have that talk with very many decathletes.”