Cottage Grove High School
Track and Field/Cross Country
Quick Links
The Track Resurfacing Project is Underway!
Please visit the link HERE for details!
Week 5 (March 31 - April 5)
UPDATE: DEPARTURE TIMES FOR OREGON RELAYS - FRIDAY 8:50AM AND SATURDAY 7:20AM.
We were fortunate to have four days of wonderful weather for practice over spring break and participating athletes continued to build on their fitness foundations. Athletes that attended all week received five points each toward their squad scores, and athletes that were at practice on Wednesday also participated in a fun squad competition. Squad points have been updated and you may view the current squad scores using the link above. This week will be unique in that there is only one meet, but it is a big one. A quick outline of the week is below along with a Q and A section about the Oregon Relays.
This week:
Monday: Athletes that missed practice over the break will be spinning the conditioning wheel as a group starting Monday. Each missed day is worth two spins of the wheel and we will not do more than four spins per practice day. Athletes will also be informed Monday if they might compete at the Oregon Relays. A new grade report will be printed on Monday. Any athlete that has an F or is below a 2.0 GPA needs to report to academic Wednesday school unless they present an updated grade slip to the office prior to Wednesday. Athletes below a 2.0 will not be eligible to compete until grade issues are resolved. **Forecast is calling for a possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Please be sure you're signed up for our remind group in order to receive any updates with practice changes. Thank you for texting @cgtrack25 to 81010 to sign up if you have not done so already.
Wednesday: We will be doing some event sign ups for the Sky-Em League JV meet that will be happening the following week on Tuesday, April 8th. All athletes are eligible to compete at this meet, but we may have a few varsity level athletes stay back to practice instead. Signing athletes up in advance gives us the opportunity to post entries and have athletes proofread in order to avoid any mistakes. This will be the first meet where athletes will have more choice as to which events they will participate in.
Thursday's practice will conclude at 5pm for athletes NOT participating in the Oregon Relays. There will be a team meeting in room 109 at 5pm with all athletes that will be attending the meet. We will finalize event info and go over schedule, warm up, and check in procedures. Competing at Hayward Field is much different than at any other venue.
Friday and Saturday: The Oregon Relays. Departure times: FRIDAY 8:50am and SATURDAY 7:20am. Athletes not attending the meet will NOT have practice on Friday. Please see the Q and A section below to learn more about how this unique relay meet works.
Saturday April 5th: We will need 10-12 athlete volunteers to help serve food at the Family Relief Nursery Gala from 4:30 to 9pm at the Cottage Grove Armory. Our program has provided help for this event for the last two years and our athletes have been given rave reviews for their service. It's a great opportunity to give back to our community and represent our program in a positive way. There will also be squad points up for grabs! Athletes should do their best to dress in all black and dinner will be provided for them. We will have sign ups this week at practice.
OREGON RELAY Q and A: Don't worry if this information seems a bit overwhelming, there is no other meet on the schedule like this one.
Q: How does this meet work?
A: The Oregon Relays is one of the premier meets on the west coast featuring almost 200 teams from multiple states. There are two main ways to participate:
Qualify as an individual by hitting a meet entry standard which is extremely difficult to do. Only two individual athletes on our team would meet the qualifying standards this year if this is how we participated.
Get invited as a team. Cottage Grove has been invited this year as a result of our program being competitive at a high level within the 4A classification. This allows us to enter some individuals using a slightly lower criteria and also allows us to enter a number of relay teams.
Q: Which athletes will be participating for CGHS?
A: We hope to have 30+ athletes accepted (this is more than we anticipated) with around 10 athletes in individual events and the other 20+ having the privilege of participating in the relay portion of the meet. We have done our best to maximize participation so that some of our athletes might have a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete as a high school athlete at one of the best track and field venues in the world. We are allowed to enter up to eight athletes for each relay event in our relay "pools." Once entries have been locked on March 30th we are no longer allowed to make any changes to any relay pool. Athletes will be notified on Monday at practice if they have been entered as an individual or included in any of the relay pools. Final decisions on which four of the eight from each relay pool will actually race will depend on several factors this week such as ability, health, number of events per athlete, and work at practice. We will make every effort to let athletes know if they will be top four in each relay as early as possible after entries are accepted on April 1st, but alternates will need to travel and be ready to warm up at a moment's notice if needed to compete. We have made an attempt to plan out relay entries so that if someone is an alternate in one relay event they will get an opportunity to race in at least one other relay. For example, Zoey may be an alternate in the 4x400m relay pool, but she will race in the 800m Sprint Medley. It is our goal to get everyone that is in a relay pool into at least one race. Any athlete that is scheduled as an alternate, but might not race at all will be informed ahead of time and given the option to not attend if they would prefer not to. Alternates are extremely important at events like this because illness and injuries happen and substitutions prevent us from having to scratch events. Scratching events at a meet like the Oregon Relays can prevent us from being invited back in the future.
Q: Why aren't our fastest athletes entered in every relay?
A: Athletes are limited to four events over the two days and there are too many relays for us to enter our "A" team in every event. This is the beauty of a relay meet as we are able to take advantage of depth and maximize participation. It is a long season and we are trying to protect the long term health and safety of our athletes by not stacking them in multiple events this early in the season. More importantly, we're trying to maximize participation and give athletes an opportunity to race at Hayward Field.
Q: Does an athlete need to be at the meet all day on both days?
A: Athletes that are entered should be at the meet on at least the days when they compete or are included in a relay pool. Athletes should travel with the team to the meet each morning as they are required to have bib numbers to enter the facility. If athletes don't travel with the team and are showing up throughout the day it creates a nightmare for the coaching staff trying to coordinate to meet athletes at the front gate to get them their bib numbers. Athletes that are done competing and are no longer in a relay pool for the rest of the day/meet are free to leave with their parents if they have checked out with a coach. There may be a handful of athletes that could show up later on Saturday if they already have their bib numbers, but we can communicate with those athletes individually.
Q: What if an athlete is entered but can't attend?
A: This would be an unfortunate missed opportunity for an athlete. When the entries are posted on Monday any athlete that will not be able to attend should let Coach Knutson know immediately. An athlete scratch in one event can cause a ripple effect that can impact other events.
Q: What is the meet schedule? When will each athlete race?
A. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE. We will make every effort to make sure that athletes know exactly what events and at what time they are competing in prior to the meet. Thursday's practice will end with a team meeting for those competing in the meet so that we are all on the same page and any potential last minute changes have been communicated. However, please understand that track and field is a sport and things can change at the last moment due to factors beyond our control such as illness and injuries. We don't anticipate huge shifts, but a late scratch in one event can cause a change in another event. Just like a basketball coach can't predict when and how much an athlete might play in a game, we can't promise that changes won't happen.
Q: Where can I find spectator and ticket information?
A: A direct link to ticket and spectator information may be found HERE. If you are new to attending an event at Hayward Field we highly recommend reading through the details carefully.
Upcoming Dates:
April 9th (1:30pm): Team pictures. We will hand out picture packets on Monday of picture day week.
April 9th (until 7:30pm): The high school team will be helping to host the home middle school meet. We are responsible for running the field events and need our athletes on site until the middle school meet ends.
Week 4 (March 24 - March 28) SPRING BREAK
Last week ended with a flurry of team activities with our first meet, team potluck, and some of our throwers competing on Saturday. The team faced some wet and windy conditions in Florence, but still competed well given the circumstances. The team potluck would not have been such a success without all the generous contributions. The team extends an enormous thank you to all who prepared and brought food, it was a fun night of food, team building, and squad competitions. You can check out the updated squad standings using the 2025 Squad Points link in the quick links section above, it's a tight competition! On Saturday at the Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational our discus team of Clayton, Rogelio and Justyn combined marks to take first place in the discus with Clayton also winning the individual discus title. Makya was also an individual champ in the javelin.
This week:
Monday- Thursday (March 24 - 27): Practice time is 9am to 11am. Practices are required and absences will be treated the same way that we do with any other missed practice (two spins of the fitness wheel for each day missed). We understand that some families may leave for spring break, but we maintain the same standard for all athletes. There is no need to notify coaches of absences this week; athletes are either at practice or they aren't. Athletes, please enter the facility through the gate at the track and you may then access the locker rooms through the gym door at the track.
Friday (March 28th) - NO PRACTICE. Enjoy a long weekend!
Upcoming Dates:
April 4-5: The Oregon Relays at Hayward Field features top competition and we won't know what entries have been accepted until April 1st. We expect to have about 15-20 athletes attending.
April 5th: We will need 10-12 volunteers to help serve food at the Family Relief Nursery Gala from 4:30 to 9pm at the Cottage Grove Armory. Our program has provided help for this event for the last two years and our athletes have been given rave reviews for their service. It's a great opportunity to give back to our community and represent our program in a positive way. There will also be squad points up for grabs! More details to come at practice.
April 9th (1:30pm): Team pictures. We will hand out picture packets on Monday of picture day week.
Meet the 2025 Squads
(Please scroll down for the week 3 update)
Week 3 (March 17 - March 21)
Despite some wet and cold conditions on Friday the squad meet was a success with an abundance of positive energy and teamwork. We will reveal the squad meet scores at practice on Monday and squads will continue to earn points as the season progresses. Thank you for taking the time to read through important information for the week, especially if you are new to the program this year. We are excited to compete at our first meet this week and also for our annual team potluck on Friday (details below).
A remind message was sent out Sunday, March 16th in an effort to remind everyone to check the website weekly updates. If you didn't receive the message you will want to make sure you're registered for our team Remind group. Please text @cgtrack25 to 81010
Just a quick reminder that if an athlete is sick and not at school you DO NOT need to communicate with a coach. There is an attendance report each day that coaches can see for this information. Thanks for helping to avoid the unnecessary wave of messages.
We had several athletes show up on the grade check list last week. Just a reminder to parents and athletes that we can't expect instant grading from teachers when students turn in late or missing work. Athletes should get school work taken care of early in order to give teachers an opportunity to grade work. Athletes that were below a 2.0 on the last progress report and have not resolved grade issues by practice time on Tuesday (3/18) will not be competing on Thursday. Entries are due by Tuesday evening and we won't be entering ineligible athletes for the meet.
The apparel deadline was last Friday. The order will be placed ASAP and we will distribute items as soon as they arrive.
Monday/Tuesday: We will be checking in with athletes about entries for the meets this week. Official entries will be posted on Wednesday at practice and athletes are responsible for checking those. We have entry limits for this meet, but we are going to try and take as many athletes as possible. This means that some athletes may not get their first choices for events, but it's better than staying home.
Wednesday, March 19th: Uniform checkout starting at 3:15pm in the main gym entry. Athletes will be issued a team uniform that will consist of at least a jacket and jersey. Athletes may choose to check out shorts and pants if they wish, or they may use their own if they have items that are solid black (no stripes or other decor). Pants that have the CG logo such as the ones ordered through the program may also be used. Team uniforms are for meets only and should not be worn to school, at practice, or in any other situations outside of competition.
Thursday, March 20th: First meet at Siuslaw High School. The bus will depart ON TIME at 12:45 (Transportation department updated). Athletes not dressed and on the bus will be left at school. Just a few reminders about the meet this week:
Parents and athletes should get in the habit of checking the meet info section for each meet at athletic.net. The Meet Schedule (athletic.net) link at the top of the page will take you directly to the CGHS info at athletic.net. The meet info section is typically the same place the coaches find details about the meet. For example, the meet this week is charging admission and the details are all in the meet info section for the Siuslaw Icebreaker at athletic.net. You will also find the field and track start times listed there. If you are not familiar with athletic.net please take a moment to watch the video tutorial linked HERE that we've created to help you out.
There is no practice on Thursday for athletes not competing except for a small handful of throwers that are staying back to prep for the throwing meet on Saturday.
As outlined in our team handbook, we only take athletes that are going to be competing. Injured athletes will stay home to focus on rest and recovery.
Athletes should be in full uniform when they get on the bus. Uniforms will be checked out on Wednesday at practice.
In order for meets to run as efficiently as possible they most often run on a rolling schedule, which means that we can't tell you exactly what time athletes will compete. While we understand this can be frustrating it becomes easier to predict as you get more practice.
Just a reminder that relays are fluid and we will be rotating athletes throughout the season.
We will NOT be stopping for food on the way home, so athletes should plan to bring plenty of food and snacks.
Friday, March 21st is our team potluck and squad competition night in the school cafeteria. We will end practice by 5pm so that athletes have time to get home and back if they need to. We DO NOT require team activities outside of practice or competition, but athletes usually like to attend these. The potluck only works if we have a team effort and last year was amazing. If you are able to bring something to the potluck please click THIS LINK and let us know what that might be. We're just trying to avoid 20 crock pots of baked beans :) The activities should conclude around 8pm.
Saturday, March 22nd is the Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational. There will be a small handful of throwers attending this and they will be notified early in the week by the throwing coaches. Some of the entries may depend on the outcome from our Thursday meet. The bus will leave CGHS ON TIME at 7:15am (transportation updated).
Upcoming Dates:
March 24-27: Spring break practices will be from 9am to 11am. No practice on the 28th.
April 4-5: The Oregon Relays at Hayward Field features top competition and we won't know what entries have been accepted until April 1st. We expect to have about 15-20 athletes attending.
April 9th (1:30pm): Team pictures. We will hand out picture packets on Monday of picture day week.
Week 2 (March 10 - March 14) - Squad Meet Week
It was a fantastic first week as we worked to build the foundation for another successful season! Thank you to everyone that showed up to the meeting on Friday. If you were not able to make it please be sure to familiarize yourself with the information from our week 1 update below if you have not already. Here are some reminders for the week as well as some upcoming dates to make note of.
A remind message was sent out Friday evening around 6pm. If you didn't receive the message you will want to make sure you're registered for our team Remind group. Please text @cgtrack25 to 81010
As discussed at the parent meeting, while practice is scheduled until 6pm some athletes do finish up earlier based on their event group. There will always be a coach on site until 6pm. Thank you for making sure your student athlete is picked up from the school so that coaches don't have to stay later than 6pm.
A reminder for anyone interested in ordering apparel for the season that forms and money need to be turned in to Lena Twyman in the main office by Friday, March 14th. If you prefer to pay with a card please call or see Mrs. Twyman to place your order. A copy of the order form can be found using the link HERE.
The last page of our team handbook (linked above) should be signed and turned in to Coach Knutson in order to compete at our first meet on March 20th. If you're new to track and field please be sure to read through the handbook as there is a lot of information that can help the first time athletes and families.
Squad meet this week! What are squads? We use squads to create a positive team culture, practice teamwork, and give athletes an opportunity to exercise leadership. Athletes on the team are divided into four squads with two captains leading each squad. On Friday during practice we will have our annual squad meet where athletes will compete in some traditional and non traditional track and field events. Anyone is welcome to come out and watch. The meet will be scored and the scores will be the starting point for our season-long squad competition. Throughout the season and at our team potluck we have multiple competitions where squads can continue earning points. The winning squad at the end of the season gets their name on the squad champion plaque. Here is how the opening week will work:
Monday - Results of captain voting will be announced at practice.
Tuesday - The captains will meet after practice in Coach Knutson's room to draft squads.
Wednesday/Thursday - Captains will meet with squads during practice to decide on squad names and decide which events athletes will compete in on Friday.
Friday - Squad Meet: We will start at 3:45 like usual, but we won't be done until closer to 6:30pm.
The weather looks to get cold and wet by the end of this week, so please encourage athletes to plan accordingly with sweats and jackets or long sleeves.
Grade checks will happen on Monday. If an athlete has an F in any class they will be required to attend academic Wednesday school after school. If an athlete fixes the grade prior to Wednesday they must submit a grade slip showing that the grade has been raised. Athletes that are not passing five classes or have below a 2.0 will be immediately ineligible until they show they have resolved the grade issues. Again, it is the responsibility of the athlete to turn in a grade slip when they have fixed their grades.
Our team potluck and squad competition night is on March 21st following practice. A food sign up will be posted with next week's update. Team events outside of practice or meets are never required, although athletes usually don't want to miss events like this. Last year this event concluded about 8pm.
Reminder that we will have practice on Monday through Thursday of spring break from 9am to 11am. No practice on Friday, March 28th.
Week 1 (March 3 - March 7) - Season Information and Links
Welcome to Cottage Grove Track and Field 2025
We are excited to get rolling with another season! Last year was another one of the best track and field seasons in school history and we can't wait to build on that success. Our goal is to provide a positive experience while developing skills to become successful athletes, students and people. Each year we have 80-100 student athletes with a wide range of experience and skills. We do not cut any student athletes from the program and expect each athlete to show up every day ready to put in the work required to improve. While many perceive track and field to be an individual sport, we place an enormous emphasis on the team aspect. We are excited for what each individual will be bringing to our team this year! Here is a bit of information that will get us started.
Please be sure to share this information and website link with other family members. If you have additional questions after reading this please communicate with your student athlete first, and encourage them to talk with the coaches. One of our goals is to help develop responsible young adults by promoting communication between coaches, athletes and parents. By including the student athletes in this process it helps to develop responsibility, and also cuts down on excessive texts, phone calls, and emails. Also, please feel free to have questions ready for the parent meeting on Friday, March 7th.
On our first day of practice athletes will be given hard copies of a few items, but we want to make sure and keep parents/guardians in the loop. Below is some information as well as links to some resources that will help you through the season.
1. This website will be updated weekly on Sunday afternoons. Thank you for bookmarking this site and making it a habit to check here for weekly updates! This website is the best resource for week to week details during the season.
2. We push out more time sensitive information using several methods in addition to the website, so please be sure to follow us where it is most convenient for you.
Sign up for remind this year for text reminders and updates. You can sign up by texting @cgtrack25 to 81010 (There were issues with the remind code initially, but the problem should be resolved now.)
Facebook: CG Track and Field/Cross Country
Instagram: cgtrackandfieldxc
3. A link to a copy/printable version of our detailed schedule is here. TIMES/DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE (Updates were made as recently at 2/24). The most up to date schedule is always online at athletic.net (see #5 below). Please look over the details on the printable version regarding which athletes participate in each meet. The weekly update on the website will provide more details as we approach each meet.
4. There will be a parent meeting on Friday, March 7th at 6:30pm in the gym. All spring sports will meet briefly and then we will have a track and field meeting. Please make every effort to attend as we have some new information for this season.
5. Athletic.net is the website that hosts all high school track and field meet results. This is often the best place to find a time schedule for every meet. Sometimes meets have live results and other times they are posted shortly after the meet ends. Keep an eye out for a video tutorial that will be posted here soon if you are not familiar with how to use athletic.net.
6. Our team expectations are handed out to athletes on the first day of practice, but here is the link as well. This document is loaded with information and includes a Q and A section. Athletes are required to return the signed sheet before competing in the first meet. There has been an influx of athletes that believe they will be participating in two sports this season, yet very few have communicated with Coach Knutson. This does not work well during the spring in most cases. Please see the dual sport section in the team handbook and contact Coach Knutson with questions.
7. We will check out uniforms to each athlete for the season, but they also have the option to purchase additional apparel. Order forms will be available for athletes to purchase personal apparel, but it is not required. Money and the order forms should be returned to Lena Twyman in the main office by Friday, March 14th. Forms will be available at practice and a digital copy may be accessed HERE. After the deadline on March 14th, the items will be printed and shipped to the high school for pickup within 3-4 weeks.
8. There will be no practice on Friday, March 28th, but we will have practice on the first four days of spring break and practice time will be at 9am. Please see team expectations if you will not be able to attend. Any questions or concerns regarding practice attendance will be addressed at the parent meeting.
Important upcoming dates in addition to meets:
March 7th: Parent meeting at 6:30pm in the gym.
March 21st: Team potluck and Squad Competition following practice.
That should be a good start for now. We're also looking forward to addressing any other questions or concerns at our parent meeting on the 7th. Thank you for all you do to support the student athletes as well as the Cottage Grove Track and Field program.
Go Lions!
Ricky Knutson
Head Track and Field Coach
ricky.knutson@slane.k12.or.us
Top Moments of 2024
CGHS Track and Field and Cross Country
The end of the calendar year presents an opportunity to appreciate 2024 and to set goals for the future. Often times we don't truly appreciate the magnitude of special moments or experiences until years later, but athletes that have been part of these CGHS programs have once again created memories that will last for a lifetime. The word history has been thrown around a lot recently to describe particular team or individual accomplishments, but it's often used without context or extensive knowledge of the past. However, the moments below have truly rewritten or added new pages to the CGHS athletics archives. In no particular order this year please enjoy a recap of some of the 2024 highlights from the track and field and cross country seasons.
Carter Caps off Amazing Cross Country Career
Despite fighting illness during the last few weeks of the season Carter Bengtson still managed to win his second consecutive State Cross Country Championship. This accomplishment can often be difficult to conceptualize. Cross Country doesn't have weight classes, athletes aren't divided into multiple events like track and field or swimming, and there is no tournament bracket that might give a favorable route to the title match or game. Carter stepped to the line against every one of the top 4A runners in the state and won...again. Carter wasn't the best for his size or for his position, he was the best, PERIOD. Not only did Carter join an elite group of runners this season by winning back to back state titles, but he also capped off one of the best cross country careers in state history. Over the last four years Carter has accumulated 23 points by placing 15th, 6th, 1st and 1st at the State Championship. This ranks Carter #21 all-time in state history regardless of class size (1A-6A); that's top 21 in Oregon over the last 58 years! During the season Carter also recorded one of the fastest 4A 5k times ever by running a 15:09 in the Danner Championship at Nike Portland XC. If you didn't get a chance to see Carter in action this fall you still have a few opportunities this spring. Don't miss out on a chance to watch one of the best to ever wear a Cottage Grove uniform.
Boys Cross Country Team Finishes 4th at State Championship
While Carter was rewriting record books as an individual, the boys team also had high hopes of a top four finish at the state meet. It was a feat that has only been accomplished by the CGHS boys one time since 1975 (boys finished 3rd in 2021). Entering the state meet ranked sixth based on season best times, the boys knew they had a chance. By the time the race concluded the boys had edged Molalla by just two points to earn 4th place and the final podium spot. For the first time since 1957-1959 the CG boys notched three consecutive top 10 team finishes at the state meet. Cottage Grove had one of the deepest 4A teams in the state in 2024 with only the state champs from Newport getting all seven runners across the finish line first. Five of those seven runners return in 2025.
Fastest CGHS Girl Ever on State Meet Course
Lots of athletes and former athletes boast personal bests that have been run on fast courses over the years, but who ran fast when it really mattered? All season long athletes post times that often create questions. Was the course short? Was it flat? How good was the competition? The state championship course at LCC is the great equalizer. When the state meet is over in November it's easy to tell who's personal bests were just an illusion. Ella Cardwell entered the state meet ranked 17th based on season best times, but finished 9th with a time of 19:33. While three CGHS girls have faster personal bests than Ella, no girl in CGHS history has been faster over the 5k distance when it mattered most, at the state championship. Ella also became the first girl to post a top 10 finish at the state meet since 2009. She is the first CGHS girl to break 20 minutes in the 5K since 2018 and she did so on five different courses in 2024. Ella's consistent hard work has been the difference maker as she has placed 50th, 23rd, and 9th at the the last three state championship meets.
Boys Three-Peat X 2! The Streaks Continue!
Each of these moments could easily be recognized on our top 10 list individually, but the fact that they have happened together makes it even more impressive. For the last three years (2022, 2023 and 2024) the boys have ruled the Sky-Em League in track and field AND cross country. The Sky-Em League has been one of the toughest leagues in the state over the last three years including a crazy 2023 season where Marshfield, Cottage Grove and North Bend all finished in the top four at the state track and field championship. While the state track meet is often a contest to see who has the most elite athletes, the district championship is always about the true depth of a program. The Cottage Grove boys may have been heavy favorites on the track in 2024, but the 2022 and 2023 district title wins were the result of significant upsets due to Cottage Grove outperforming the form chart. In other words, being the best when it mattered most. In similar fashion the cross country team dominated in 2024, but required some big performances for the first two titles. After upsetting Marist in 2022 the boys were forced to replace six of the top seven varsity runners to earn the 2023 championship. The streak isn't over! There are several seniors that are looking to end their high school careers this spring by going undefeated at the district track championships while the cross country team looks to race for number four in the fall!
Trio of Second Place Finishes at State Track Meet
While winning a state championship is the pinnacle, it is also a great accomplishment to have three athletes with 2nd place finishes at the state track and field championship. Mayka Alsup spent the majority of the season with the softball team, but was able to find a little time to throw javelin. After winning the district championship in the javelin, Makya improved by over seven feet at the state meet to secure second place. It took a state meet record to beat Hayes Valley in the 110m hurdles, but he finished ahead of third place by .85 seconds. Hayes also placed 7th in the 300m hurdles. Carter Bengtson took second place in one of the fastest 3000m races in state meet history and his time of 8:37 is only two seconds off of Bruce Davidson's 40 year old school record. Carter also placed fourth in the 1500m. The best part is that all three will be back this spring!
Eli Cracks the CGHS Top 20
It has been 25 years since a CGHS guy has thrown his way onto the top 20 list for the discus or shot put. With a throw of 152-06 in the discus Eli Williams earned the #16 spot on the all-time CGHS list. How hard is it to make the CGHS all-time lists for the throws? Alex Toureen took second place at the state championship in 2011 with a throw of 50-8 and he was still 14 inches from cracking the CGHS top 20 list. Imagine being the second best thrower in the state on any given year and not being good enough to be on your school's all-time top 20 list! WOW! Eli went on to take 4th place at the state championship in both the shot put and the discus. Eli also placed in both throws in 2023 to help the boys team capture a third place finish.
School Record Streak Continues
Between 1974 and 2021 the girls cross country team had only qualified for the state cross country championships three times, and only one time in the 40 years between 1982 and 2022. Despite multiple runners fighting illness off and on for the majority of the season the girls managed to qualify for the third time in the last three years. These girls have helped to establish a new standard for distance running at CGHS. Qualifying for the state meet for the girls team was once the goal, but they have made it the expectation. The girls returning next year look forward to the challenge!
Carter Runs 4th Fastest 4A 5K of All-Time
After running a fast 3k at the state championship Carter earned an entry into one of the most elite high school meets in the United States, Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field. Carter chose to compete in the 5k distance which isn't a standard distance at most high school state championships. Carter's time of 15:06 ranks him #4 all-time in 4A state history and just one spot ahead of Bruce Davidson from Cottage Grove. It's awesome to see two Cottage Grove names among the all-time greats! After running 15:09 on the cross country course this fall could a sub 14 on the track this spring be in Carter's future?
Squad Champs!
The squad competition has become an integral part of our program since 2012. This year the Quads of Fury added their name to the list of other squad greats! While it's not traditional track and field most of the time, the squad meet and weekly squad competitions have created lasting memories for many of the athletes.
Brennen Murphy Continues Success at Western Oregon University
Brennen picked up where he left off at CGHS and had an amazing first year at WOU. Not only did he win the 400m at the GNAC Championships, but he earned bragging rights by passing up Coach Vogel on Western Oregon's all-time 400m list by running 48.08 for the #4 spot all time (see list below). Coach Vogel's 1:49 time in the 800m could present a little more of a challenge, however. While many remember Brennen as a star on the basketball court and on the track, he was also a varsity cross country runner. Brennen was the tie breaking runner for the 2021 cross country team that finished third at state and was also a member of the 2023 district championship team. Brennen is a great example of a multiple sport high school athlete that is having success at the next level. It's not always about specializing in high school, it's about becoming a great athlete and learning to compete in many different ways. Good luck to Brennen as he gears up for the 2025 season!
