Thomas and Marie Beckum of Caribou have been busy competing in indoor track and field competitions throughout New England over the past several weeks, and have experienced a high level of success.
The latest venture, the Maine Indoor State Championships, was held Feb. 25 at the University of Maine at Orono. Thomas Beckum placed second in the 1,500-meter run in 4 minutes and 40.79 seconds, which equals a 4:57 mile — third fastest in the United States for his 40-44 year-old age division. He also won the 200-meter dash in 29.63 seconds and the long jump at 15 feet, 5-1/2 inches.
Marie Beckum also competed in three events, running 3,000 meters in 12:12 and 600 meters in 2:06 and recording a mark of 9 feet, 9-1/2 inches in the long jump.
Thomas Beckum of Caribou competes in a running event at the New England USATF Championships at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Feb. 18. (Courtesy of Marie Beckum)
On Feb. 18 at the USATF New England Championships at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Thomas Beckum came in second place in the 800 meters. On Jan. 28, in the USATF East Region and New England Masters Championships in Rhode Island, he took second in both the 800 meters and 3,000 meters.
He has qualified for the National Indoor Track and Field Championships, to be held in Maryland March 16-18.
