Fran Sichting (Worthen)    Class of '72

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     Worthen was one of the top female track and field athletes in the country and a multiple state champion for Marshfield. While at Marshfield, she participated in cross country, field hockey, volleyball and track and field, and was an active member of the Girls Athletic Association, holding several offices including president. 

     She spent her track and field career setting and resetting school, district and state records, and two times broke the national high school long jump record. She won a total of 10 state titles, is the only Class 4A athlete to score more than 100 career points in the state meet, and led Marshfield to the 1972 state championship. 

        After graduating from Marshfield, she joined the track and field team at Southwestern Oregon Community College, becoming the first woman to participate for a men's junior college track team. 
     She broke the American record for 220 yards three times, but was denied the mark on technicalities each time. In 1974, she was the AAU National Senior Women's champion at 220 yards and part of a 440-yard relay team that set an American record. 

    She retired from track and field in 1975 to turn her attention to motherhood and became the head track and field coach at Marshfield.
     Post Hall of Fame Induction Accomplishments:  Fran coached the Pirate girls to a state title in 2005 and led the boys team to a state title in 2008.  She retired from coaching Pirates after the 2008 season.

American Short Relay Record Holder in 1974  -  Set National Record in Long Jump in 1970 & 71

In 1974, two years after her successful high school career, Fran was a National Championship finalist in the long jump, 100 yard and 220-yard dashes. She won the 220 yard dash and was crowned America's national champion. That same year she competed for the US in the short relay against the USSR at Duke University and the team set an American Record.

Video of Fran video in US-USSR relay at Duke - July 5 & 6, 1974.   Fran's race starts at 35:59. Set U.S.record

Fran in Sports Illustrated Faces in The Crowd - June 18, 1973

Fran in Sports Illustrated Roundup of the week - June 19-15, 1973

Fran in Sports Illustrated Scorecard  - July 9, 1973  Look for  Dead Horse Department

Fran's 10 State Gold Medals

Year
1970
1971
1972

Event
Long Jump 18' 7 1/2
Long Jump 18' 8
Long Jump 18' 5

Event
220 Yd 25.2
220 Yd 25.5
220 Yd 24.9

Event
100 Yd 11.0

100 Yd 10.9

Event
880 Relay 1:54.8

880 Relay 1:53.9

Marshfield Relay Team Set the State Record in 1970 & 1972

1970 880 Medley Relay Team - Cheryl Bates, Barb Seyler, Carol Knight, Fran  
1972 880 Medley Relay Team - Vicki Hunt, Dianne Walker, Tina Rausch, Fran

Above: 1972 State Champs at the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Banquet
Back Row L to R: Karen (Banks) Gwartney, Cheryl (Bates) Duman, Jennifer (Bates) Pleus,
Diane Walker,  Marilyn Wilson, Tina (Rausch) Smith
Front Row L to R: Kathe (McNutt) Stufflebean, Sally (McInturff) Hursman, Fran (Auer Sichting) Worthen,
Vicki Hunt,  Veanna Morris Stanton