Observations of energetic (1.5--300 keV/e) medium-to-high charge state (+3≤Q≤+7) solar wind origin C and O ions made in the quasi-trapping region (QTR) of Earth's magnetosphere are compared to ion trajectories calculated in model equatorial magnetospheric magnetic and electric fields. These comparisons indicate that solar wind ions entering the QTR on the nightside as an energetic component of the plasma sheet exit the region on the dayside, experiencing little or no charge exchange on the way. Measurements made by the CHarge Energy Mass (CHEM) ion spectrometer on board the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft at 77, that is, solar wind secondaries are produced at L<7, and (2) solar wind secondaries do not form a significant portion of the plasma sheet population injected into the QTR. We conclude that little of the energetic solar wind secondary ion population is recirculated through the magnetosphere. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994