America's Distance Running Legend
Steve "Pre" Prefontaine was born on January 25, 1951. He died on May 30, 1975. In those 24 years, he became a legend. He won seven NCAA titles, set eight American records at distances ranging from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters, and inspired a running movement in the United States. He is remembered for his competitiveness and passion, and his unwillingness to "sacrifice the Gift".
Lens Navigator -- Your guide to all things Pre!
- New Book! Steve Prefontaine - Rocketman
- Quick poll: How much do you know about Steve Prefontaine?
- Did you know? Five fun facts about Steve Prefontaine!
- Pre in high school
- Quick Poll: Who was the greatest high school runner ever?
- Inspirational posters of Pre
- Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine
- Pre at the University of Oregon
- Quick Poll: Who is the greatest U of O runner ever?
- Video: Steve breaks 13 minutes en route to winning the national AAU Championships 3-mile
- Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Co-founder
- Pre at the '72 Munich Olympics
- Quick Poll: If Pre had run in 1976, would he have beaten Lasse Viren?
- Video: Steve running the 5,000 meters at the Munich Olympics in '72 (part 1)
- Video: Steve running the 5,000 meters at the Munich Olympics in '72 (part 2)
- Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story
- Pre's post-collegiate career, death and lasting influence
- Seriously, which movie on Pre's life was better, Without Limits or Prefontaine?
- Without Limits
- Prefontaine
- Pre's best performances
- Video: Pre wins the LA Times indoor mile in 1973 (plus interview)
- Steve Prefontaine items for sale on eBay!
- Steve Prefontaine products for sale at CafePress
- Other great distance running lenses by buraian
- Yes, people are still talking about Pre in the blogosphere!
- Shout Out For Steve Prefontaine!
- Optimal Training
New Book! Steve Prefontaine - Rocketman
by Bree T Donvan and Linda Prefontaine
This book is not about what Pre gained during his short and brilliant life, but what he refused to give up as celebrity status settled inevitably on his shoulders. This unique story of Pre is specifically written for young people. Rocketman is told through the eyes and voice of Owen Morgan. Owen is a literary conduit through which the entirely factual events and characters are presented. The stories Owen shares with the readers are the stories of the people who knew and loved Steve Prefontaine, and the people Pre loved.*Author royalties will go to a special fund established by Linda Prefontaine for physical education and arts programs at Blossom Gulch School in Coos Bay Oregon. Blossom Gulch was both Steve and Linda's former elementary school.
Buy the book here! The Rocketman CD is now available here!!
Quick poll: How much do you know about Steve Prefontaine?
Did you know? Five fun facts about Steve Prefontaine!
You don't know Steve until you know this!
- Pre was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 19!
- Pre lost only three races in his collegiate career: NCAA Cross Country Championships his freshman year (3rd) and two mile races!
- Pre held the American record for 2000m, 3000m, 2-miles, 5000m, 6-miles, and 10,000m...all at the same time...and all at the age of 24!
- The Olympic flag was carried into the stadium of the Montreal Olympics in 1976--after Pre's death--by Canadian athlete Stefan Prefontaine.
- Pre had better range than all but one athlete in US distance running history. That athlete? Click here to find out!
Pre in high school
From freshman scrub to national two-mile record holder
"How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN." --Steve PrefontainePre attended Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, Oregon. He started running his freshman year and put up relatively modest times in cross country and track. He placed 53rd in the Oregon state cross country championships and ran times of 5:01 and 10:08 for the mile and two-mile, respectively.
Pre undertook a high-mileage summer training program but did not see immediate success his sophomore year. He did run a solid race in his District Championships, but he did not win any significant cross country races. On the track, Pre ran 4:31 indoors for the mile, but failed to qualify for the State Championships when he finished fourth in his best event, the two-mile, at the district meet.
Pre's junior and senior seasons were highly successful. He went undefeated for two years, winning multiple state championships and setting 19 high school records in the process, including taking 7 seconds off the previous two-mile record time, an 8:48.4 by Rick Riley.
Pre's best times from high school were:
1:54.3 - 800m
4:06.0 - mile
8:41.5 - 2-mile
13:43.0 - 3-mile
13:52.8 - 5000m
His 8:41.5 is still the national record for the two-mile, and his time of 13:52.8 for the 5,000 meters stood for many years.
University of Oregon assistant coach Bill Dellinger saw Pre run at the Oregon state cross country meet as a junior and convinced Pre to sign with the University of Oregon on April 29, 1969.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Official Steve Prefontaine Site, StevePre.com, U of O Website
Quick Poll: Who was the greatest high school runner ever?
Inspirational posters of Pre
Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine
by Tom Jordan
Pre: The Story of America's G Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/07/2008)
Used Price: $3.20
While this book doesn't necessarily delve into the biography of the great sports star Steve Prefontaine as opposed to recount his specific athletic challenges, it still manages to motivate and commemorate. The most moving passages are personal accounts and recollections from the friends and competitors he influenced with his talent, determination, perseverance and "Gift."
A too-short life with a tragic end, remembered still for the great triumphs he enjoyed.
Any runner with even a passing interest in the sport will want to read this great little book. Chances are, he or she will finish it wanting to go out and hit the road for a good, hard run.
Go Pre!
--Nelson Aspen
Pre at the University of Oregon
"Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it." --Steve PrefontainePre entered the University of Oregon in the fall of 1969. He was coached by Oregon's legendary Bill Bowerman. Outside of running, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Pre entered college with an aggressive running style. He insisted on running from the front. This gained him admiration from many fans and competitors, and earned him a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "America's Distance Prodigy" at the age of 19.
Pre lost his first and only NCAA Championship meet that year, finishing third in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. In his first track race for Oregon he won the two-mile in a time of 8:40.40. He later ran a 3:57.7 mile, setting an Oregon freshman record, and he won the NCAA Championships three-mile race later that year with 12 stitches in his foot (13:22.0)!
Pre dominated collegiate running his sophomore year, winning his first of three NCAA Cross Country titles as well as his second NCAA three-mile title on the track (13:20.2). His best times from his sophomore year were 3:40.5 (1500m), 8:33.2 (2-mile), 12:58.6 (3-mile), and 13:30.4 (5000m).
Pre's junior year was more of the same. He won his second straight cross country title, and his third NCAA track title, this time in the 5,000 meters (14:01.4). His best times from his junior season were 3:39.4 (1500m), 3:56.7 (mile), 7:44.2 (3000m), 8:19.4 (2-mile), 12:54.2 (3-mile), and 13.22.8 (5000m).
(Pre's run for the Olympics and 5,000 meter race in Munich during his junior year is profiled separately below.)
Pre ended his career at Oregon the same way he started it: by winning championships. Pre came back from 100 meters back on Western Kentucky's English star Nick Rose to win his third NCAA cross country title in the fall. On the track, he dominated his season and won the NCAA three-mile championship in 12:53.4. He became the first person to win four consecutive NCAA track titles, and only the second to win three cross country titles.
Pre lost only one race his senior year, and it was an epic race. At Hayward Field, in front of "Pre's People", Pre served as a rabbit in the mile for '72 Olympic 800m champion Dave Wottle. Wottle wanted to try for the American record. Pre led the whole way until 200m to go, when Wottle passed him for the victory. Wottle ran 3:53.3 to Pre's 3:54.6.
Pre's best times from his senior season were all personal bests, save for the two-mile. He ran 3:38.1 (1500m), 3:54.6 (mile), 7:42.6 (3000m), 8:24.6 (2-mile), 12:53.4 (3-mile), and 13:22.4 (5000m).
Steve Prefontaine with a young fan shortly after winning his fourth NCAA track title.
Photo by HarriDavid
Sources: Wikipedia, The Official Steve Prefontaine Site, StevePre.com, U of O Website
Quick Poll: Who is the greatest U of O runner ever?
Video: Steve breaks 13 minutes en route to winning the national AAU Championships 3-mile
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Co-founder
by Kenny Moore
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Co-founder
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
Used Price: $5.89
Even though I am a big track and field fan, and I even went to the NCAA National T & F Championship meet at Oregon in 1962, I never realized how big an influence Bill Bowerman was on his athletes and on the whole state of Oregon.
This well-researched volume gives the reader a true understanding of Bowerman-the-man, his roots and his impact on Oregon society. It was a wonderful read and an inspiring personal journey. --George L. Parrott
Pre at the '72 Munich Olympics
"I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." --Steve PrefontainePre qualified for the Olympics by winning the US Olympic Trials 5,000 meters over four-time Olympian George Young. He executed a strategy where he continued to pick up the pace lap by lap, and was able to run away from Young in a new American record 13:22.8.
Pre was just 21 years-old when he competed at the Munich Olympics, two years younger than any other competitor in the field. He famously said that he planned to run his last mile in under four minutes, and that if it came down to an all guts race, no one could beat him. This rankled some of the competition, who felt he didn't appreciate their own abilities to finish strong.
During the 5,000 meter final, the race went out slow for the first two miles. Pre took the lead with four laps to go and began pushing the pace. He was followed closely by Finland's Lasse Viren, Tunisia's Mohammad Gammoudi, Britain's Ian Stewart, and ( ).
Pre held the lead until about 600 meters to go, when Viren took it. They exchanged the lead numerous times over the next 400 meters, and with 200 to go, Pre made his last push. Viren responded with a huge finish, however, with Gammoudi following closely behind. Pre ran in third until about 15 meters to go, when Britain's Ian Stewart passed him for the bronze.
Pre's fourth place time was 13:28.25, just two seconds behind Viren's 13:26.42. It was one of the most competitive 5,000 meter races in Olympic history. You can see it below!
Sources: Wikipedia, The Official Steve Prefontaine Site, StevePre.com, U of O Website
Quick Poll: If Pre had run in 1976, would he have beaten Lasse Viren?
Video: Steve running the 5,000 meters at the Munich Olympics in '72 (part 1)
"The Europeans say he hasn't yet been in a war, but he's got a lot of belief in himself"
Video: Steve running the 5,000 meters at the Munich Olympics in '72 (part 2)
"The race has been left to the fastest miler, and Prefontaine thinks that's him"
Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story
Starring Frank Shorter, Scott Chambers
Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story DVD
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Used Price:
I first saw this when it aired on TV, in 1995 or 1996, while I was still in high school. I didn't watch it again for over a decade, until I recently purchased this DVD. There were so many lines from this that were still in my head after all this years, like when the sportscaster says Pre was running against "the very big boys" and would have to wait until 1976 to win his medal. Or when the bronze medalist from the '72 Olympic 5000 meter race, the UK's Ian Stewart who passed Pre in the closing yards of the race, talked about Pre not being aware of how many the European runners could match Pre's pre-race plan of running the last mile in 4:00. The black and white footage of Pre powering down and then up a hill during one of his college cross country races was great, it was stuck in my mind during my runs for the next week. This DVD is much more worth owning than either of the full length movies that have been made about Pre, although they are worth having as well. --Ryan Larson
Pre's post-collegiate career, death and lasting influence
"A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more." --Steve PrefontaineAfter graduating from Oregon, Pre ran for the Oregon Track Club and continued to compete at a world-class level. In 1974, Pre ran personal bests in the 3000m (7:42.6), two-mile (8:18.4), three-mile (12:51.4), 5000m (13:21.9), and the 10000m (27:43.6).
Pre volunteered at Roosevelt Junior High School and at the Oregon State Prison, where he started a running club with many of the inmates. He also, at this time, began to take a leading role as an activist against the practices of the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU), for what he perceived to be their monopolistic control over amateur athletes.
In 1975, having signed with Nike and risked his amateur status, he continued to train for the Montreal Olympics in 1976. He was getting back into top shape, running 13:23.8 and 28:09.4 for 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, respectively.
Then, on May 30, 1975, while returning from dropping off his friend Frank Shorter after a party, Pre was involved in a fatal car accident. He was driving down Skyline Boulevard in Eugene, Oregon, and his car hit a rock wall on the side of the street. The car flipped over and pinned Pre underneath it.
A man who lived nearby came out and found Pre alive, but trapped under the car. The man tried to lift the vehicle but couldn't, so he left to call for help. When he returned, Pre had died. He was 24 years old.
Pre is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Coos Bay, Oregon. He is survived by his parents, Ray and Elfriede, and two sisters, Neta and Linda.
Pre's legend grows
At the time of his death, Pre held every American record from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters. He was one of the favorites to win the gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. And he was a rising star in a country experiencing a running boom.
His death marked "the end of an era". Since 1975, the University of Oregon has hosted the Prefontaine Classic, a track meet featuring many of the best runners in the world. A documentary, "Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story" was made in 1995, and two feature-length movies have been made about his life, "Prefontaine" and "Without Limits". The biography of his life, "Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Distance Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine" by Tom Jordan, has become required reading for runners of all ages.
In 1983, Pre was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. In 2000, Pre was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.
He remains one of the most inspirational and well-known runners in history. Statues of him can be found at the Nike headquarters, and a memorial can be found at the site of his death (picture below) and in his hometown of Coos Bay. He is remembered today for his many great quotes, with arguably his most famous being:
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift."
Photo by pete4ducks
Sources: Wikipedia, The Official Steve Prefontaine Site, StevePre.com, U of O Website
Seriously, which movie on Pre's life was better, Without Limits or Prefontaine?
Which movie about Pre's life was better, Without Limits or Prefontaine?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byWithout Limits was much better; Crudup and Sutherland were great!
lance says:
without limits.
Posted September 08, 2008
buraian says:
I enjoyed Without Limits more. But that was all Donald Sutherland!
Posted May 09, 2008
Prefontaine was much better; the story was more realistic!
V.BOOK says:
PREFONTAINE OF COURSE. EVEN FRANK SHORTER SAID SO TOO, WHEN I SPOKE WITH HIM AT THE NASHVILLE MARATHRON 2008.
Posted September 05, 2008
Steven says:
You can't have a blond Pre; it just doesn't work. Prefontaine's story just flowed better
Posted May 13, 2008
Without Limits
Starring Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland
Without Limits
Amazon Price: $8.49 (as of 10/07/2008)
Used Price: $3.78
"Without Limits" is the best sports movie of the 1990s, hands down. However, because it does not have the traditional happy ending that seems to be required of sports movies, it received very little notice. That's unfortunate because in addition to containing an Oscar-calliber performance from Donald Sutherland, the rest of the acting and direction are absolutely first rate. Robert Towne captures the essence of the great Prefontaine through the being of Billy Crudup. The race scenes are simply breathtaking. Prefontaine comes off as a real person, with all of his virtues and faults, rather than some mythical presence. Even the love story rings absolutely true instead of being an unreal fable. Overall, you could call this one a "Bang the Drum Slowly" for the 1990s. Its that heartbreaking. --Brian D. Rubendall
Prefontaine
Starring Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey
Prefontaine
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 10/07/2008)
Used Price: $3.99
This movie is great for those interested in running as a competitive sport. My prime running years developed during Prefontaine's peak years, so I was one of those keenly aware of his abilities and influence. I was sad to hear of his untimely death. This movie helped remind me of that time period and how much of an impact he had on long-distance running. It was also good to see Frank Shorter in the movie (another giant from that time).
The actors were good and the cameos by actual characters were really good. The running was realistic and fast-paced. Even some of the true cross-country scenery was included, which is not often seen these days.
The movie keeps flowing, which might have been hard for a topic that is usually laid-back. I was glad that the movie focused on the topic and did not fall for the typical Hollywood glitz that tries to cover up reality. The emotionality (the triumph and the defeat made popular by ABC at that time) is brought into new light for viewers who may have considered running a dull sport. I know it certainly got my adrenaline flowing again. Go Pre, Go! --Randy Given
Pre's best performances
"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they're capable of understanding." --Steve PrefontaineChampionships
1st, 1970 NCAA 3-Mile (13:22)
1st, 1970 NCAA Cross Country Championships
1st, 1971 NCAA 3-Mile (13:20.2)
1st, 1971 NCAA Cross Country Championships
1st, 1972 NCAA 5000m (14:01.4)
1st, 1972 Olympic Trials 5000m (13:22.8)
1st, 1972 NCAA Cross Country Championships
1st, 1973 NCAA 3-Mile (12:53.5)
Personal Records
3:38.1 - 1500m
3:54.6 - mile
5:02.4 - 2000m
7:42.6 - 3000m
8:18.4 - 2-mile
12:51.4 - 3-mile
13:21.9 - 5000m
26:51.4 - 6-mile
27:43.6 - 10000m
Sources: Wikipedia, The Official Steve Prefontaine Site, StevePre.com, U of O Website
Video: Pre wins the LA Times indoor mile in 1973 (plus interview)
"I could have maybe gone one more lap, but I don't know about three more..."
Steve Prefontaine items for sale on eBay!
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Steve Prefontaine products for sale at CafePress
For when you need some new gear!
Other great distance running lenses by buraian
Because the world needs to know!
Here are five of my SquidWho lenses on great distance runners. But I've made many more lenses on great distance runners, as well as other splendiferous topics as well. So check out my lensography for more.-
Dathan Ritzenhein
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Dathan Ritzenhein is the reigning USATF Cross Country Champion. He is a two-time high school XC champion (99-00), an NCAA XC champion (03), and a two-time USATF XC champion (05, 08). He is also a two-time Olympian and holder of various national track...
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Alan Webb
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Alan Webb has had a record-breaking career, and he is still just 25 years old. He holds the National High School indoor and outdoor mile records, the American mile record, and is the former holder of the two-mile record. He ranks among America's elit...
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Mebrahtom Keflezighi
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Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi is the American record holder over 10,000 meters (27:13.98) and a silver medalist in the Olympic marathon (Athens, '04). He is a four-time NCAA champion, a three-time U.S. 10k champ, and a two-time U.S. cross country champi...
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Matt Tegenkamp
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Matt Tegenkamp is a phenomenal runner. The American record holder for two-miles, he has also run the fourth fastest 5k all-time in America. He has won USA cross country titles, indoor track titles, and come within four hundredths of a second of medal...
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Emil Zatopek
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Emil Zatopek redefined distance running. The Czech runner's brutal interval workouts and strategic approach to racing helped him to win four Olympic gold medals, including three (5k, 10k, and marathon) at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He set 18 world reco...
Yes, people are still talking about Pre in the blogosphere!
- PRE
- I remember flipping through them and having that sensation of bitter cold flow through my body when I saw the headline: ?American Runner, Steve Prefontaine Killed in Car Crash.? I had lost a hero. ?Pre,? as he was known to his fans, ...
- Our local hero: Steve Prefontaine 2
- As Bill Bowerman said: "Pre turned distance running into a blood sport." BTW - there is also a documentary about Pre, Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story (1995) which was co-written by another local hero, Ken Kesey.
- HARAMBEE
- It is actually too bad that Steve Prefontaine is held up as the quintessential American distance runner. We admire him because he was a rebel, a loner; we love the idea of him out front alone, breaking the pack. ...
- PRE
- Most runners know about Steve Prefontaine and his running legend, but I'm not going to be embraced to say I really didn't. For years I faked this knowledge in running circles, nodding my head while listening to "familiar" Pre stores. ...
Shout Out For Steve Prefontaine!
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...
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buraian
Thanks WWHW! Glad to know you liked it! Posted July 10, 2008 |
Steve's 2 mie high school record isn't the record anymore is it? I thought that German F. guy is the new holder? correct me if im wrong.
Posted June 22, 2008
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WorkingWriterHappyWriter
This is one of the best lenses I've seen! Lots of great info and photos. Posted June 19, 2008 |
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