Long Distance Runner. Born in Coos Bay, Oregon, he was a champion runner who held the American record in seven different distance track events. He began running when he joined the high school cross-country team in 1965. Going on to be a standout track athlete at the University of Oregon under the guidance of coach Bill Bowerman, he never lost a collegiate (NCAA) race at 5,000 meters or 10,000 meters. Plus he set the American record in the 5,000 meter race and won 120 of the 153 races he ran. At the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, he won the gold medal 5,000 meter race and ran for the US team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Following his collegiate career at Oregon, he set American records in every race from 2000 to 10,000 meters. After an event while preparing for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he died at the age of 24 in an auto accident near Eugene, Oregon. Prefontaine's life story was depicted in the films, "Prefontaine" (1997), "Without Limits" (1998), and the documentary "Fire on the Track." The Prefontaine Classic track meet is held annually in Eugene in honor of him. He is also a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Long Distance Runner. Born in Coos Bay, Oregon, he was a champion runner who held the American record in seven different distance track events. He began running when he joined the high school cross-country team in 1965. Going on to be a standout track athlete at the University of Oregon under the guidance of coach Bill Bowerman, he never lost a collegiate (NCAA) race at 5,000 meters or 10,000 meters. Plus he set the American record in the 5,000 meter race and won 120 of the 153 races he ran. At the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, he won the gold medal 5,000 meter race and ran for the US team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Following his collegiate career at Oregon, he set American records in every race from 2000 to 10,000 meters. After an event while preparing for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he died at the age of 24 in an auto accident near Eugene, Oregon. Prefontaine's life story was depicted in the films, "Prefontaine" (1997), "Without Limits" (1998), and the documentary "Fire on the Track." The Prefontaine Classic track meet is held annually in Eugene in honor of him. He is also a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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"PRE"
Steve R. Prefontaine
Jan. 25, 1951 - May 30, 1975
Our beloved son and brother
who raced through life
now rests in peace
Family Members
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