Most people visit Miami with nightclubs and sunbathing on their minds.

But Jason Beck preferred his six-day stay in South Beach just the same.

The Moniteau High School graduate and veteran powerlifter visited Florida to compete at the World Championships and the Pan-American Games Nov. 8 to 13.

When all was said and done, Beck placed second in the world competition and first in the Pan-Am event. It was his first appearance in either event.

"I was thrilled with the performance," said Beck, who now lives in Virginia. "The only guy to finish above me at the World Championships was Ivan Freydun from the Ukraine. He set a world record (at 2,287 total pounds).

"To finish second behind a guy who sets a world record, you've got to be happy with that."

Beck, 27, competed in the 220-pound weight class. His final score of 2,083 pounds included his lifting of 788 pounds from a squat position, 529 pounds in a bench press and 766 pounds in a dead-lift.

All three totals were combined for his second-place finish in the world and first place performance in the Pan-Am Games, which included competitors from North and South America.

"Making it to the world championships has been a goal of mine for some time now," said Beck. "I've always looked forward to it. Next year, the World Championships are in Norway. I hope to get back and do better. Of course, I can only improve by one place."

Beck has come a long way since he began powerlifting at age 15.

"Back when I started, I didn't realize that it was such a popular sport," he said. "I just picked it up to stay in shape for football."

But powerlifting became a passion for Beck. His talent and desire helped take him to competitions all over the United States and even Bulgaria for the 2001 Junior World Team championships.

He now trains four days every week.

"My training sessions last about an hour and a half to two hours," Beck said. "I spend two days every week working on my bench pressing and one day each on squatting and dead-lifting."

One issue that seems to have permeated just about every sport is steroids. And, in a sport like weightlifting, many people jump to conclusions when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs.

"When you're putting up that much weight, a lot of people just assume you're on something," said Beck. "I've been asked a lot if I use steroids and I can say that I have always been drug free.

"Every competition I go to, they've tested me," he said. "Many of the European countries have problems with steroids. But the (United States) has been pretty good about sending clean teams to the different competitions."

Beck, who graduated from Slippery Rock University last December, is now in the midst of his off-season training program. He plans to return to Miami in July to compete at the Men's National event.