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1970 Girls 880 Yard Medley Relay State Championship Team
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• 1970 District Champion 880 Medley Relay 1:58.3
• 1970 State Champion 880 Medley Relay 1:54.8
• New State Meet Record
• 1970 State Champion 880 Medley Relay 1:54.8
• New State Meet Record
Track and field for girls was first offered at Marshfield in the spring of 1968. At that time there were two classifications in the state of Oregon, A1 and 2A. Marshfield was in the 1A class in the Midwestern League with some powerhouse programs in the Willamette Valley.
Led by coach Miss Nadine Brood, the Pirate girl's finished fourth in the district that spring and qualified seven athletes to the state meet which was held at Silke Field in Springfield. Marilyn Wilson and Karen Banks qualified in the high jump, Fran Auer qualified in the long jump, 10 yd. dash, and 220 yd. dash and joined the 880 yd. medley relay with Barb
Seyler, Cheryl Bates, and Carol Knight. Fran, a sophomore, had a breakout meet winning the long jump with a mark that would best the state meet record and the national record in that event. She followed up with first place finishes
in the 100 and 220, as well. After completing prelims, semi-finals and finals, the sprinter was getting pretty tired but excitement for the final race of the meet was building.
This was the first year that the 880 yd. medley event was contested. Going into the state meet the Pirate girls had the best time in the state. The medley relay began with the 220 yd. leg followed by two 10 yd. legs, and finished with the anchor running 440 yds. Fran would normally run the 220 leg while Cheryl Bates would anchor but Coach Brood decided to switch the girls for the final. The substitution proved to be the winning strategy. The team was in last place when Fran got the baton in heavy traffic and one-by-one picked of the runners ahead of her. The Pirates established a state meet record time of 1:54.8 and upset the Spartans of Corvallis for second place at the meet with 40 points. Fran was high point winner for the meet with 32 1⁄2 points.
The Pirate track and field team would continue to grow and excel and win their first state title in similar fashion in 1972 under Coach Kay Chambers.
Fran (Auer) Sichting graduated from Marshfield Class of 1972 and was recruited by Southwestern Oregon Community College and competed on the men's track team. She went on to compete for the National AAU track & field team where she was a national champion in the 220 yd. dash and was on the 400m relay team that set the American record in 1974. She retired from the sport to raise a family with husband, Ted Sichting ('68). They had three daughters; Nikki (94), Marcy ('96), and Kelly (99). After Ted was killed in a logging accident she married Jerry Worthen ('71) and two more daughters were added to the family, Leah ('05) and Alison ('08). All the girls were three-sport athletes at MHS with three daughters going on to compete at the collegiate level. Jerry and Fran started Pacific Properties real estate in 1989 and operated the business until 2012 when the business was passed on to Randy and Kely Hoffine.
Fran coached the Marshfield track team for eleven seasons from 1998 until 2008, eight years as head coach. The women won a state champion- ship in 2005 and the men in 2008. She was named OACA Coach of the Year twice during those years. She left the coaching position so that she and Jerry could attend their daughter's collegiate track meets, welcome arriving grandchildren, and complete their cabin in Allegany. Fran has remained active with the Prefontaine Foundation, helping at MHS track meets, serving as an officer for PEO Chapter FM and the Star of Hope, and busy teaching Bible studies and serving in many capacities in her church.
Her five daughters have brought five wonderful husbands and fifteen grandchildren into the family. With Jesus leading the way, the best is yet to come!
Cheryl (Bates) Duman
• Graduated from Marshfield in 1973. Still holds school records in the 200m hurdles, 880, Mile and 880 Medley Relay
• Named to the Who's Who Oregon Track and Field Honor Roll in the 440, 200 Meter Hurdles, 880 Medley Relay, 880, and Mile during high school (1970-1973)
• Attended Lane Community College - Associate of Arts, 1975
• Graduated University of Oregon - Bachelor of Science, 1977
• Completed in Cross Country and Track at Oregon and Basketball and Track & Field at Lane CC
• Best times: 800 meters 2:147.; Mile 5:02; 1500 meters 4:40; did compete at national level
• Married husband Les Duman in 1979; celebrating 44 years in June
• Masters of Science - University of Oregon, 1985 with Health endorsement
• Counseling Credentials from Western Oregon University and Oregon State University, 1993 Teaching/ Counseling Career
• Willamette High School; Physical Education
• Capital High School - Olympia, WA; part-time/ Physical Education
• Substitute teaching in Eugene and Springfield
• Central Linn Middle School - Physical Education, Health and Counseling
• Oaklea Middle School in Junction City
• Fern Ridge Middle School - Counseling
• Junction City High School - Counseling
• Officially retired in 2016 - 39 years in Education Coaching Career
• Willamette High School - Gymnastics, Basketball, Track &Field
• Churchill High School - Cross Country,
Assistant Basketball & Track & Field
• Capital HIgh School - Gymnastics, Tennis, Slow-Pitch Softball
• Central Linn High School - Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field
• Elmira High School - Basketball
• Lane Community College - Women's Basketball
• North Eugene High School - assistant Basketball
• Eugene/Springfield Kidsports - Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer
• 34 years coaching
Kept scorebook for son Derek's Basketball teams while at West Albany High School. He is currently the Athletic Director and Boy's Basketball coach at Riverdale. He lives in Tualatin with wife Kelsey and our first grandson, Lucas, born in March 2023.
Currently keeping a scorebook for daughter Danielle's softball team at West Albany High School where she is also the Equipment Manager for West Albany football team and teaches 7th grade Math at Memorial Middle School.
Also currently teaching water fitness classes 5 days a week at River Road Park District pool and substitute teaching in Lane County.
Carol (Knight) Kemnitz
I came to Marshfield High my sophomore year from Havre, Montana as my dad was in radar for the Air Force. We had traveled extensively prior to moving to Coos Bay. During the three years I spent at Marshfield, I participated in choir, the Mahiscan staff and the track team. My greatest success as a track member occurred my senior year. Not only did our 880 medley relay team win first in state but the team itself won 2nd place. What a day it was followed by my attendance at the Senior ball.
After graduation, I attended Marylhurst College where I graduated with a major in biology and minor in psychology. Then off to a management training program with US Bank/US Bancorp. When Bancorp acquired Piper Jaffray another employer was added to my 30 plus year career. The majority of my career was spent as an Institutional Sales manager in our Brokerage business. In 2008, I retired and moved from the Portland area to Sutherlin. Here i enjoy crabbing, fishing, riding on the dunes, camping, hiking and snowmobiling. I am also blessed to have two sons and six grandchildren.
Barb (Seyler) Benson was one of the top female athletes at Marshfield High School. She and her three teammates continue to hold the unbroken record set in 1970 in an 880 yard Medley Relay Event. Her team included Cheryl Bates, Carol Knight, Barb Seyler and Fran (Auer) Worthen. This achievement took place at Historic Silke Field in Springfield, Oregon. Steve Prefontaine competed at Silke Field in 1968. For this relay team, it was a Podium and a Gold Medal day.
After graduating from Marshfield, Barb joined the Oregon College of Education track team (now WOU) where she received her Bachelors Degree in Education followed by a Masters Degree from Portland State University. She taught all grades and later in her career worked with special needs students. She was loved by her students, their families, and her co-workers.
She retired as an educator and chose to serve as an Advocate for the Marion County District's Attorney office as a Victim's Assistant. Barb's daughters fondly remember their mom taking them to any nearby school track for evening runs. Barb ran rain or shine, but preferred running on the hottest days of the year.
Led by coach Miss Nadine Brood, the Pirate girl's finished fourth in the district that spring and qualified seven athletes to the state meet which was held at Silke Field in Springfield. Marilyn Wilson and Karen Banks qualified in the high jump, Fran Auer qualified in the long jump, 10 yd. dash, and 220 yd. dash and joined the 880 yd. medley relay with Barb
Seyler, Cheryl Bates, and Carol Knight. Fran, a sophomore, had a breakout meet winning the long jump with a mark that would best the state meet record and the national record in that event. She followed up with first place finishes
in the 100 and 220, as well. After completing prelims, semi-finals and finals, the sprinter was getting pretty tired but excitement for the final race of the meet was building.
This was the first year that the 880 yd. medley event was contested. Going into the state meet the Pirate girls had the best time in the state. The medley relay began with the 220 yd. leg followed by two 10 yd. legs, and finished with the anchor running 440 yds. Fran would normally run the 220 leg while Cheryl Bates would anchor but Coach Brood decided to switch the girls for the final. The substitution proved to be the winning strategy. The team was in last place when Fran got the baton in heavy traffic and one-by-one picked of the runners ahead of her. The Pirates established a state meet record time of 1:54.8 and upset the Spartans of Corvallis for second place at the meet with 40 points. Fran was high point winner for the meet with 32 1⁄2 points.
The Pirate track and field team would continue to grow and excel and win their first state title in similar fashion in 1972 under Coach Kay Chambers.
Fran (Auer) Sichting graduated from Marshfield Class of 1972 and was recruited by Southwestern Oregon Community College and competed on the men's track team. She went on to compete for the National AAU track & field team where she was a national champion in the 220 yd. dash and was on the 400m relay team that set the American record in 1974. She retired from the sport to raise a family with husband, Ted Sichting ('68). They had three daughters; Nikki (94), Marcy ('96), and Kelly (99). After Ted was killed in a logging accident she married Jerry Worthen ('71) and two more daughters were added to the family, Leah ('05) and Alison ('08). All the girls were three-sport athletes at MHS with three daughters going on to compete at the collegiate level. Jerry and Fran started Pacific Properties real estate in 1989 and operated the business until 2012 when the business was passed on to Randy and Kely Hoffine.
Fran coached the Marshfield track team for eleven seasons from 1998 until 2008, eight years as head coach. The women won a state champion- ship in 2005 and the men in 2008. She was named OACA Coach of the Year twice during those years. She left the coaching position so that she and Jerry could attend their daughter's collegiate track meets, welcome arriving grandchildren, and complete their cabin in Allegany. Fran has remained active with the Prefontaine Foundation, helping at MHS track meets, serving as an officer for PEO Chapter FM and the Star of Hope, and busy teaching Bible studies and serving in many capacities in her church.
Her five daughters have brought five wonderful husbands and fifteen grandchildren into the family. With Jesus leading the way, the best is yet to come!
Cheryl (Bates) Duman
• Graduated from Marshfield in 1973. Still holds school records in the 200m hurdles, 880, Mile and 880 Medley Relay
• Named to the Who's Who Oregon Track and Field Honor Roll in the 440, 200 Meter Hurdles, 880 Medley Relay, 880, and Mile during high school (1970-1973)
• Attended Lane Community College - Associate of Arts, 1975
• Graduated University of Oregon - Bachelor of Science, 1977
• Completed in Cross Country and Track at Oregon and Basketball and Track & Field at Lane CC
• Best times: 800 meters 2:147.; Mile 5:02; 1500 meters 4:40; did compete at national level
• Married husband Les Duman in 1979; celebrating 44 years in June
• Masters of Science - University of Oregon, 1985 with Health endorsement
• Counseling Credentials from Western Oregon University and Oregon State University, 1993 Teaching/ Counseling Career
• Willamette High School; Physical Education
• Capital High School - Olympia, WA; part-time/ Physical Education
• Substitute teaching in Eugene and Springfield
• Central Linn Middle School - Physical Education, Health and Counseling
• Oaklea Middle School in Junction City
• Fern Ridge Middle School - Counseling
• Junction City High School - Counseling
• Officially retired in 2016 - 39 years in Education Coaching Career
• Willamette High School - Gymnastics, Basketball, Track &Field
• Churchill High School - Cross Country,
Assistant Basketball & Track & Field
• Capital HIgh School - Gymnastics, Tennis, Slow-Pitch Softball
• Central Linn High School - Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field
• Elmira High School - Basketball
• Lane Community College - Women's Basketball
• North Eugene High School - assistant Basketball
• Eugene/Springfield Kidsports - Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer
• 34 years coaching
Kept scorebook for son Derek's Basketball teams while at West Albany High School. He is currently the Athletic Director and Boy's Basketball coach at Riverdale. He lives in Tualatin with wife Kelsey and our first grandson, Lucas, born in March 2023.
Currently keeping a scorebook for daughter Danielle's softball team at West Albany High School where she is also the Equipment Manager for West Albany football team and teaches 7th grade Math at Memorial Middle School.
Also currently teaching water fitness classes 5 days a week at River Road Park District pool and substitute teaching in Lane County.
Carol (Knight) Kemnitz
I came to Marshfield High my sophomore year from Havre, Montana as my dad was in radar for the Air Force. We had traveled extensively prior to moving to Coos Bay. During the three years I spent at Marshfield, I participated in choir, the Mahiscan staff and the track team. My greatest success as a track member occurred my senior year. Not only did our 880 medley relay team win first in state but the team itself won 2nd place. What a day it was followed by my attendance at the Senior ball.
After graduation, I attended Marylhurst College where I graduated with a major in biology and minor in psychology. Then off to a management training program with US Bank/US Bancorp. When Bancorp acquired Piper Jaffray another employer was added to my 30 plus year career. The majority of my career was spent as an Institutional Sales manager in our Brokerage business. In 2008, I retired and moved from the Portland area to Sutherlin. Here i enjoy crabbing, fishing, riding on the dunes, camping, hiking and snowmobiling. I am also blessed to have two sons and six grandchildren.
Barb (Seyler) Benson was one of the top female athletes at Marshfield High School. She and her three teammates continue to hold the unbroken record set in 1970 in an 880 yard Medley Relay Event. Her team included Cheryl Bates, Carol Knight, Barb Seyler and Fran (Auer) Worthen. This achievement took place at Historic Silke Field in Springfield, Oregon. Steve Prefontaine competed at Silke Field in 1968. For this relay team, it was a Podium and a Gold Medal day.
After graduating from Marshfield, Barb joined the Oregon College of Education track team (now WOU) where she received her Bachelors Degree in Education followed by a Masters Degree from Portland State University. She taught all grades and later in her career worked with special needs students. She was loved by her students, their families, and her co-workers.
She retired as an educator and chose to serve as an Advocate for the Marion County District's Attorney office as a Victim's Assistant. Barb's daughters fondly remember their mom taking them to any nearby school track for evening runs. Barb ran rain or shine, but preferred running on the hottest days of the year.
