Carl Dominey

During the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, Carl Dominey built the Astoria High School track and field program into not only one of the Cowapa League’s top teams, but one that gained status throughout the state. Most of that success came from the distance runners developed by Dominey’s outstanding cross country team.

Through his 30 plus years, the Fishermen cross country and track programs became a source of pride for the students at Astoria High School, not to mention the entire Astoria community. In track, Astoria totaled 18 individual state champions under Dominey’s direction. Five times Astoria High School tracksters set state meet records. Astoria’s 1981 girls track unit, led by Hall of Famer Kam Johnson, gave Dominey and the Fishermen their only team champion. Only four times in school history has Astoria won the District championship, and all four came under Dominey’s leadership.

Every track and field individual record at Astoria High School, with the exception of Gary Lay’s 22-11 long jump, would be rewritten by Dominey’s guys and gals thinclads. He was selected Oregon Girls’ Coach of the Year in 1981, as a reward for his team’s championship that year.

In cross country, Dominey’s units won 14 District crowns. Astoria would lay claim to 13 individual crowns. Dominey’s teams qualified for the state meet 27 times. Twice his teams’ would bring the championship trophy back to Marine Drive, not to mention second and third place finishes.

His two titles earned him Oregon Coach of the Year awards. In 1993 he was nominated as State and National Cross Country Coach of the Year.