EUGENE – Cottage Grove’s Carter Bengtson can now hang up three gold medals in his bedroom as he came away from the 2025 OSAA Track & Field State Championships with his third state title of his senior year, winning the 3000 meters at 8:26.39 and setting the meet record by five seconds.
“I feel like I’ve worked pretty hard,” Bengtson said on Friday, who watched the 3000 meters state final from the stands in his freshman year. “I’m not gonna feel bad about saying I deserve this.”
On Friday, Bengtson already entered Hayward with notable accolades that positioned him as the favorite in the final. He grabbed the Sky-Em district title in the 3000 meters and broke the meet record from 1994. He was also ranked No. 4 all-time for 4A. In the fall season, he won his second consecutive state title with a time of 15:41.2 in the 5K race.
Though, despite his decorated senior season, the setup had similar echoes of last year’s position. In 2024, Bengtson also entered Hayward as the favorite and had beaten his previous best time by six seconds. However, he fell short of Newport’s Finn Collson, who ran the 7th-fastest time in 4A history (8:35.36).
Bengtson was hoping Collson would “take it out” before the finish line, but realized he wouldn’t. Bengtson left upset with his second-place finish, but satisfied with his PR of 8:37.77.
Amid the 3000-meter final this year, with Collson out of the picture and fueled by the desire for redemption, Bengtson ensured there would be no question or doubt for the spectators. He cruised to the front early, ripping through 67-second laps to sustain the lead.
Bengtson explained that this approach was his preference, unlike last year, when he was outkicked from the front.
“I’m not a kicker,” Bengtson said about blowing open his lead. “I take it to the front and I go and, if those guys want to stay with me, they can, but I’m gonna run at 100% the entire race. And it worked, well, it worked this time.”
Bengtson’s lead was so large that he finished 19 seconds before second-place finisher, Marist’s Conor Thompson. Along with shattering Alex Garcia-Silver’s 2023 state meet record by 5 seconds, he improved his state time from last year by 11 seconds.
Carter Bengston crossing the finish line at 8.26.40. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE 
Bengston letting out a Lion roar after his finish. 
After celebrating, Bengston turned around and gave second placer, Conor Thompson of Marist, a hug. Thompson has been his friendly rival in cross country and track for years.
His new time of 8:26.39 ranked him No. 2 all-time in the 4A classification behind only Noel Paulson of Cascade from 2000 (8:18.73). He is also ranked No. 14 in the 2025 Oregon High School rankings and No. 39 in the 2025 United States High School Outdoor rankings.
Finding happiness
Though Bengtson was proud to achieve this milestone, he walked away from the podium looking toward the 1500 meters the next day.
He explained that winning both titles was his ultimate goal.
“Today’s win gives me confidence for tomorrow,” Bengtson said on Friday. “Tomorrow is the real deal. It’s the real challenge of how much speed work I have put in. There’s a lot more at stake with tomorrow’s race. Should I be satisfied if I don’t win? Yes. Will I? Probably not. I’m never going to be satisfied without the win.”
Unfortunately, Bengtson was outkicked by Corban Sage of Marist in the 1500 meters on Saturday. Sage finished 3.58.53 and Bengtson recorded a time of 4.01.54 – shaving off 5 seconds from his time last year (4.06.03)
Despite not achieving his goal, Bengtson said he left feeling relieved after he stepped off the podium.
“I just want to leave my senior year happy with how I did,” he said. “And I am happy, and I feel good about where I’m going next year. I’ll be able to run pretty fast in college with these milestones.”
Bengtson’s legacy
Cottage Grove’s track and field and cross country program sees many talented seniors and top scorers graduating this season, including Bengtson, one of Cottage Grove’s most decorated athletes in history.
Despite the blow this might make to the program, Cottage Grove head coach Ricky Knutson said that Bengtson’s legacy as a Lion will be a foundation for future fast Cottage Grove runners. Bengtson is a stellar example of hard work and drive, as noted in his hunger after the 3000 meters to achieve more.
“I mean, this is a kid we are talking about who wasn’t even fast enough to go to state in his sophomore year just two years ago,” he said.
Bengtson received third in the league in his sophomore year and managed to qualify only for state chipping out the auto-qualifying time.
“I think his history can create a pathway for our upcoming runners,” Knutson said.
It’s not over yet for Bengtson as he plans to race the 5000 meters and 3000 meters at Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field on June 19 and 21.
Other Lions results:
The boys team was 11th overall and the girls 23rd. Ella Cardwell ran a 15-second PR (10.33.74) in the 3000 meters final to place 5th. She followed up with a three-second personal best in the 1500 meters (4.55.61) and a 10th-place finish. On the field, Rogelio Soto-Cruz threw a three-foot personal best to take 5th place in the shot put (15.45m). He also took 7th place in the discus (42.86m). Lastly, Makya Alsup earned 7th in the javelin (35.84m).
