Almost four decades, and no one has touched them.
The oldest marks on the Coupeville High School track and field record board were set 39 seasons ago, back in 1984 by five-time state champ Natasha Bamberger.
All these years, and athletes later, her marks in the 1600 and 3200 still stand, two of six records which still tower from the Greed is Good decade.
The ’80s are still repped on the big board in the entrance to the CHS gym, thanks to Bamberger, Chad Gale (long jump, 110 hurdles, and 300 hurdles), and the boys’ 4 x 100 relay unit.
Meanwhile, four records set in the ’90s endure, thanks to Jennie Cross (shot put, discus), Allyson Barker (triple jump), and Yashmeen Knox (high jump).
In an enduring quirk, Knox and Rich Wilson, who set the boys’ record in the high jump in 2000, remain the only husband/wife duo to both appear on the board.
While a handful of long-term records remain in place, the most recent additions to the record book came in the 2019 season, when 10 of 35 marks were toppled.
The pandemic prevented anyone from competing in 2020, and the past two springs, while full of individual and team success, didn’t produce any new school records.
With a new season kicking off next week, which direction will 2023 take?
Only time will tell.
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