Firth High School’s golden age of track and field started in 1997 and closed in 2008.

Not a middle age or a bronze age. This was a golden age.

Firth teams combined for 10 state track and field titles during that particular age, buoyed by performers such as Heidi Hopkins, Shawn Ellsworth and Marianne Scheiss.

Today, the Cougars appear on the cusp of another golden age. Squarely in the middle of this Bingham County gold rush is incoming senior Madison Torgerson.

Known as “Madi” by just about everyone but the tax man, Torgerson has fully committed to her role as the leading thrower on the Cougars’ roster. Torgerson has helped Firth finish first and second at state the past two seasons, respectively.

“Sometimes I run over to the track for myself, and I’ve seen Madi working at the throwing pits by herself,” Firth track and field coach Bob Lambert said. “Madi has taken her commitment to another level this year.”

Madi defended her 2025 state shot put title with a school-record push at the 2026 championships in Middleton, reaching 40 feet, 3 ½ inches — the only girls thrower to break the 40-foot barrier in Firth history.

As an encore, she went on to earn All-American status by placing in the top eight in the hammer throw and shot put at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Norwalk, California.

Torgerson also placed in the top eight in the same events in 2025, making her a four-time All-American.

“Being a 4-time All-American shows me the work I’ve put in during the season and throughout the summer has paid off,” she said. “I definitely couldn’t have gotten to those places without my family, my teammates and my (throwing) coach Audra Wilkes.”

Despite her success on the national junior Olympic stage, Torgerson will always carry a place in her heart for that sunny Friday afternoon at Middleton High School when she turned out the big 4-oh.

“That day when I threw it past 40 was very special to me,” Madi said. “That morning I felt really sick, but once I got there I got a boost of energy. When I saw I got it past 40 feet, it was such a cool feeling because I had worked toward that for so long.”

Lucky for coach Lambert and coach Wilkes, Madi will be back for another go next spring when the Cougars break ground on the 2027 season. Unlucky for Lambert and Wilkes is the fact that Madison Torgerson will be a senior, and their time with her is limited.

“She would love to compete in college, and I believe she is deserving,” Lambert said. “To repeat as a state champion is really hard to do, but Madi handled it, and that shows she is able to handle pressure in a mature way.”

For her part, Madi is counting the days until she and her teammates can get back to the job of mining track and field gold.

“The past two years has been crazy, being part of this team,” she said. “We all push each other because we know every point matters. We have a lot of athletes returning and some really good new athletes. I think we have a great chance to stay at the top.”