New School Record for 800m Set by Lauren Muscutt

At the track and field State Championship, the two Cascade High School (CHS) seniors, Lauren Muscutt and Owen Bard, came away with impressive end-of-career performances in all of their events.

Muscutt dominated the 800m race, winning the prelim by over 3.5 seconds and winning the final in 2:15.46, over a second ahead of the next competitor in a race where a second is significant. That 2:15 also set a new CHS record, about a second faster than the prior record set by Erin Mullins in 2017.

When asked about her path to success, Muscutt said, “It’s been a long journey to get there. It wasn't always easy to train, but I'm glad I stuck with it and was able to finish my career on such a positive note. I wanted to set a school record, and it feels great to have accomplished that goal.”

The 800m final went off at a fast pace, enabling half of the finishers to accomplish personal records. Muscutt relied on her power and speed to win by utilizing a long kick. “My strategy was to let someone else lead and then pass and go as fast as I could at the final 250. All I really wanted to do was run as hard as I could.”

Muscutt also competed in the mile, where she PR’ed with a 5:11, earning fourth overall. “That was the race that hurt the most, that I was most dreading, and I will miss the least. I did better than I thought I would, which was awesome,” she said.

Muscutt and three freshmen, Maizy Groff, Teyva Dillon and Morgan, won the 4x400m relay handily, winning the prelim by over five seconds and the final by over 3.5 seconds. Head coach Bill Davies and coach Carl Haberberger knew they had a great chance if the first three runners could get Muscutt, anchoring, close to the other teams. The freshmen showed their talent by doing just that, including handing off to Muscutt in the lead in the prelim.

Over the course of the Championship, Muscutt had to race well five times, which is challenging for any athlete. “It's kind of stressful,” she said. “I try to eat well and get rest, but both of these things are tough for me. Each day, I force-feed myself breakfast because I feel like I'm going to throw up.”

Track long distance coach Eric Wulfman has worked with Muscutt for several years. “Watching Lauren’s progression from a talented but unsure freshman to state champion has been extremely satisfying,” he said. “Genetics are just part of the puzzle. Her willingness to do the extra work is the mark of a true champion.”

Muscutt is excited for what’s next, including a summer of relaxed running, hanging out with friends and continuing her job making pizza at Blewett Brewery. Come fall, she’ll be heading to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “I do not plan to run there. I'm excited to find new passions,” she said.

Owen Bard, a top cross country runner, came out for track for his senior year for the first time. Coach Wulfman explained, “Owen very successfully ran cross country and track in middle school. In high school he ran cross country but, in the spring, played soccer until this year. He ran well and made constant improvements all season.”

In both the mile and two-mile events, Bard qualified for state by winning the district races by significant margins. At state, Bard set two PRs of 4:38 and 10:11 for the mile and two-mile races, respectively. Before the two-mile race, he had about the tenth fastest time. So, during the race, he had to make several strategic moves to come away with seventh overall.

Bard looks forward to attending the University of Washington in the fall.

Looking back, Muscutt reflected on the important team aspect of track, which is perhaps less apparent than in other sports. “Everyone that I meet in this sport, regardless of their team, feels like a community,” she said. “Track and field is all about working hard together even when we compete against one another. My coaches have been so supportive and positive, even when I was grumpy.”

As for her 4x400m relay teammates, Muscutt added, “I am excited to see what they do in their future careers as athletes.”