Erika Beistle
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 May 2003 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Discus throw |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | Discus: 66.72m (2026) Shot Put: 18.26m (2026) |
Erika Beistle (born 8 May 2003) is an American discus thrower and shot putter.[1]
Biography
From Rodney, Michigan, she attended Big Rapids High School, and did not start in the discus throw until joining the track and field team in high school. In her senior year, she was state champion in both the discus throw and shot put. After considering the military she instead began to attend Grand Valley State University and worked with throws coach Matt Conly. In her freshman year, she was runner-up at the D2 NCAA Div II Outdoor Championships.[2]
She was an US Olympic Trials finalist in the discus throw in June 2024, placing fourth overall with a best throw of 62.50 metres.[3][4] While a student at Grand Valley State University, Beistle won the NCAA Division II title in the discus throw in 2024 and 2025, setting a new meeting record in 2025 with a winning throw of 65.05 meters.[3] In April 2025, she threw 66.63 meters, a new NCAA D2 record.[3][4] In August 2025, she placed seventh at the 2025 USA Championships.[5]
Competing indoors in 2026, she broke the Grand Valley State record in the shot put, also breaking the NCAA Division II record with a throw of 17.68 meters.[6] In February 2026, Beistle set a new personal best of 18.26 metres in the shot put at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan, winning ahead of compatriot Adelaide Aquilla.[7] On 10 May 2026, Beistle set a new personal best of 66.72 metres at the GVSU Last Day Meet in Allendale, winning ahead of Julia Tunks of Canada.[8] She placed fourth in the discus throw at the 2026 Xiamen Diamond League meeting on 23 May 2026, with a throw of 64.07 metres.[9] With 61.32 metres she placed fifth in July at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic.[10] Competing at the 2026 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in New York on 26 July, she finished third in the discus behind Cierra Jackson and defending champion Valarie Sion with 65.29 metres.[11]
Personal life
She typically competes in sunglasses, which she has described as her "little shield, so that nobody can kind of see what’s going on in my head.” Outside of track and field, she is keen on fishing.[2]
References
- ↑ "Erika Beistle". World Athletics. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- 1 2 "NCAA D2 CHAMPION ERIKA BEISTLE READY TO TAKE HER BEST SHOT AT U.S. TEAM". Runnerspace. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 D'Addona, Dan. "GVSU's Erika Beistle crushes NCAA record in discus for second title; she is tops in U.S." Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- 1 2 Jagtiani, Jayden (26 April 2025). "Rodney native, Big Rapids graduate Erika Beistle ranks 6th in the world in discus". 9and10news.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "USA Championships". World Athletics. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ D'Addona, Dan (5 February 2026). "GVSU's Erika Beistle building on NCAA shot put record with title, Olympic hopes". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "GVSU Big Meet- Friday". World Athletics. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "GVSU Last Day Meet". World Athletics. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wanda Diamond League Xiamen". World Athletics. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Johnson, Robert; Gault, Jonathan (4 July 2026). "Fireworks at Pre: Hiltz Stuns Kipyegon, High Schooler Taylor Rips 19.75 on the 4th of July". Lets Run. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "JEFFERSON-WOODEN DOMINANT ON FINAL DAY OF TOYOTA USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS". usatf. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.