Steve prefontaine records

Steve prefontaine height
Steve prefontaine death
Steve prefontaine wife

•

Eugene-Springfield Running Legends

Steve Prefontaine

Track Legend Steve Prefontaine was born in Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast on January 25, 1951. As a senior at Marshfield High School, he broke the two-mile American record. He signed on with the University of Oregon in 1969. At Oregon, he won seven NCAA titles, including 3-mile titles all four years. Although he was offered a six-figure contract to compete professionally, he chose to remain at the UO in Eugene, running as an amateur. He graduated with a major in communications and minor in architecture.

Prefontaine's profound effect was evident off the track. He volunteered his time at a local junior high school and at the Oregon State Penitentiary, where he began a running club for the inmates. He was also a vocal advocate for air-quality, petitioning for field-burning bans.

Pre seemed invincible, and there was a cry from competitors, and mocking from his fans, to try and "stop Pre" — but that was not easily done. During his 24-year lifetime, Pre set the bar high for future runners. He ac

•

The Steve Prefontaine Story

We want to introduce you to one of Oregon’s greatest sports legends, Steve Prefontaine, who’s pursuit for Olympic medals was a driving factor in the American running craze in the mid-1970s.

During his brief 24-year life-span, Steve Prefontaine grew from hometown hero, to record-setting college phenomenon, to internationally acclaimed track star. In that time, he claimed seven NCAA titles, a fourth-place Olympic finish in 1972 (5K), and American records from 2,000 meters through 10,000 meters. Click here for more of his records.

We in the Coos Bay area, hold a special place for Steve here where he was born in 1951 and discovered his gift for running fast and far as a student at Marshfield High School. It was here, he developed his foundation of commitment; working to be the best in the field, and doing it his way. He was one-of-a-kind and when he ran those fortunate enough to witness it, saw something they had never seen before, or since. He was one of those rare people who combine talent, discipline, determination, and natural celebrity with a si

•

How Steve Prefontaine set the pace for Nike

He continually challenged the AAU and spoke out about the inequity, even when it put his eligibility to compete in jeopardy.

Prefontaine preserved his amateur status but he never made it to Montreal. His last competition was 29 May 1975, in a race he helped organise against members of the Finnish national team and distance heavy hitters such as Frank Shorter. Competing in the 5000m, Prefontaine trailed Shorter the first two miles, then, with three laps to go, accelerated to a 63-second pace. In front of a Hayward Field crowd of 7,000, he finished with a 60.3 last lap and a winning time of 13:23.8, just off his own American record.

He ran a victory lap, attended the University of Oregon athletics awards banquet and spent the rest of the evening hanging out and celebrating with friends. The biggest athletics star in the country came to a tragic end later, just after midnight, while driving home—his life cut short by a car accident at age 24.

His legacy is multifaceted. To generations of athletes at all levels, he embodies the p