In this honor we mostly recognize Fran Worthen’s athletic accomplishments. But those who have been blessed to be touched by Fran, be it her family or the Pirate family, know that Fran’s beneficent personality and leadership are what truly set her apart.
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 (the highest level of state classification at the time) 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.
Fran was inducted into the MHS Hall of Fame in the first group of inductees. 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.
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.
| Fran’s 10 State Gold Medals | ||||
| Year | Event | Event | Event | Event |
| 1970 | Long Jump 18′ 7 1/2 |
220 Yd 25.2 |
100 Yd 11.0 |
880 Relay 1:54.8 |
| 1971 | Long Jump 18′ 8 |
220 Yd 25.5 |
||
| 1972 | Long Jump 18′ 5 |
220 Yd 24.9 |
100 Yd 10.9 |
880 Relay 1:53.9 |
Fran front and center at a Hall of Fame event.
