Fran Worthen reflects on the changing role of women athletes in the 1960s and 70s and about her childhood goals of becoming one during the 100th Coos County Track Meet Celebration on Thursday at Marshfield High School . “I dreamed of competing in sports,” she said. World Photo by Alex Powers.

For just over four minutes Thursday night Steve Prefontaine was alive and once again at Marshfield High School.

More than 300 people sat in rapt attention and watched a silent, scratchy film, shot on a home video camera, of Pre as he tried to break a 4-minute mile at the 1969 county meet. There was some laughter as an opponent looked back to see if the running legend were going to lap him, but for the most part, the Marshfield auditorium was silent as Pre, like water running downhill, showed what a champion looks like on the track.

The movie was just one of many moments that highlighted the unique history of the meet, celebrating its 100th year today. And many of the hundreds of people gathered there had played a firsthand role in that history.

Two speakers — 1946 Coquille alum George Johnson and 1938 Myrtle Point grad Sam Dement — shared memories of the county meet and the effect athletics has had on their lives.

Johnson, a three-sport athlete, member of the 1945 Coos County track champions and the 1946 county meet MVP, recalled training on the old dirt track at Coquille and how his shop teacher had to make hurdles for him to practice with. He also said he cherished the experience.

“I think you get something out of sports you don’t get anywhere else,” he said. “You learn how to be a member of a team.”

Dement, another three-sport star, an all-county athlete from 1937-38 and the 1938 Outstanding Athlete at Myrtle Point High School, had some advice for young athletes.

“For you young people, performing athletics is a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “You’ll make friends for life ... This is something you will never forget.”

The night’s keynote speaker — 10-time state champion Marshfield track coach and former AAU USA track and field team member Fran Worthen — didn’t get to take part in the county meet because she  graduated from Marshfield in 1972, and girls weren’t allowed in the meet until 1976.

“My mom thought it was important for me to be prepared for my future, so I took ballet and accordion lessons,” cracked Worthen, earning a round of applause and laughter. “But I dreamed about — although I was ashamed to admit it — running for the USA in the Olympics.”

Throughout her high school career, Worthen struggled to earn the right to compete as a girl in a boys’ world, even as she set national records in the long jump as a sophomore and senior. At one point, she related how her senior year, the principal told her she couldn’t participate in track and field because she was married, a rule that didn’t apply to boys. Taking the matter before the school board, she argued her case and had the rule changed.

“Before Title IX, there was no equity for boys and girls sports,” said Worthen. “Sports probably made me the person I am today, but not because it was easy. It was because of the path strewn with trials, prejudices and barriers.”

Worthen’s career was linked to the times, as was the Coos County Meet, as North Bend history teacher and track coach Steve Grief pointed out in a history lesson to start the night off.

Sharing anecdotes and quotes from old newspaper clippings, he talked about the nature of the event going clear back to 1909 when it was held at a track built for the “new invention” of the automobile.

“This is the oldest continuous track meet in the state, perhaps the oldest continuous athletic event in the state,” said Grief.

The history of the event wasn’t lost on the younger generations present at the gala, either, especially when it came to watching the great Prefontaine compete decades ago.

“It’s amazing to know that he’s from here, he ran where you’re running,” said North Bend sophomore Sam Lynass.

“You always have to get in that state of mental preparedness, but I don’t get that prepared until I’m inspired. I’ll go home more prepared tonight because I’ve heard all these inspiring stories,” added Marshfield junior Caleb Kruse.

But the main message most of the speakers gave to the youthful athletes in attendance was to cherish the camaraderie of sports. That idea was evident right until the end; some of the final moments of the Prefontaine footage was of a disappointed Pre, having failed to meet his goal of a 4-minute mile, being supported and comforted by his teammates.