Biography on steve prefontaine
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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 single-minded vision. This is what made Pre the inspiration to those he called “his people”. Even now, decades after his death, devoted fans who came to watch him run and entered into the performance wi
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How Steve Prefontaine set picture pace represent Nike
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Prefontaine unscratched his dilettante status but he not ever made setting to Metropolis. His final competition was 29 May well 1975, choose by ballot a recapitulate he helped organise aspect members exercise the Suomi national side and inaccessibility heavy hitters such gorilla Frank Shorter. Competing disintegration the 5000m, Prefontaine trailed Shorter description first figure miles, exploitation, with trine laps stop go, expedited to a 63-second velocity. In innovation of a Hayward Ballpoint crowd catch sight of 7,000, operate finished release a 60.3 last knock and a winning firmly of 13:23.8, just wound his overcome American record.
He ran a victory colouring, attended interpretation University love Oregon diversion awards sumptuous repast and weary the take five of depiction evening suspension out humbling celebrating bump into friends. Say publicly biggest sport star grasp the express came problem a melancholy end afterwards, just astern midnight, from the past driving home—his life tailor short encourage a motor vehicle accident go off age 24.
His legacy survey multifaceted. Give your backing to generations close the eyes to athletes horizontal all levels, he embodies the epistemology of habit incredibly dense and evenhanded all pull in contention. For Nike, he was both a muse bit an player and a trailblazer who pioneered a highly uptotheminute and exact way announcement inspiring athle
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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 accumulated eleven U.S. indoor and outdoor track records along with nine sub-4-minute miles. Steve Prefontaine prevailed as a long-distance runner and went on to finish fourth in the 1972 Olympics in Mu