Full Answer
How did Steve Prefontaine die?
Prefontaine tragically died after a car accident in 1975 at the age of 24. His car was flipped with him lying under the wreck. By the time medics arrived, he was pronounced dead. It had been reported that his blood alcohol content was found by the Eugene Police Department to be 0.16.
What is Steve Prefontaine famous for?
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) was an American middle and long-distance runner who competed in the 1972 Olympics. Prefontaine held American records in seven different distance track events, from 2,000 to 10,000 meters; he died at age 24 in an automobile accident near his residence in Eugene, Oregon.
Who was the first police officer at Prefontaine’s accident?
Ten years ago, Loveall was a patrol seargeant who was the first police officer on the scene of Prefontaine’s car accident. The career that began with such promise a mile away at Hayward Field ended on a sharp curve in the foothills of east Eugene, on Skyline Drive, exactly 156 feet from where that drive intersects with Birch.
How did Steve Prefontaine change the world?
At just after midnight on May 30, 1975, Prefontaine died. Shortly after his death, Congress passed the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, providing a more advantageous legal framework for athletes. Running has gone from a pastime reserved for Olympians to a habit for the masses. And Nike has a market capitalization of nearly $90 billion.
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What caused Steve Prefontaine's death?
Traffic collisionSteve Prefontaine / Cause of deathA traffic collision, also called a motor vehicle collision, car accident or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Wikipedia
What road did Prefontaine die?
Skyline DrivePrefontaine, born in Coos Bay, was 24 years old when he died in a car crash on Skyline Drive on May 30, 1975.
Is Pre's Rock where he died?
Legendary local runner Steve Prefontaine was expected to take home gold in the 1976 Olympic Games, but in 1975 he was tragically killed in a car crash in Eugene. He was 24. A small memorial, Pre's Rock, sits at the site of that crash, and has become a place of pilgrimage for runners.
What was Prefontaine's fastest 2 mile?
The strength of the field and favorable conditions, he thought, could enable him to break the national high school record in the 2-mile run. Break it he did, and more. On that night, "Pre" ran smart, incredibly fast and right into the record books with a time of 8 minutes, 41.5 seconds.
What was Steve Prefontaine's fastest mile?
3:54.6Along with his reputation for leading early instead of pacing himself until the last lap, Prefontaine had tremendous leg speed; his career-best for the mile (3:54.6) was only 3.5 seconds off the world record at the time.
Who beat the 4 minute mile?
Roger BannisterIn Oxford, England, 25-year-old medical student Roger Bannister cracks track and field's most notorious barrier: the four-minute mile.
What shoes did Steve Prefontaine wear?
— For the first time ever, a pair of Nike Oregon Waffle shoes worn by distance runner Steve Prefontaine are up publicly for sale.
Why was Steve Prefontaine so good?
His running style made him a fan favorite—he was a front-runner. Pre never avoided racing against anyone at any distance, even though he knew in many cases he would have very little chance of winning. He was vociferous in speaking out to advocate for athletes' rights against the dictatorial, clubby AAU.
Where is pre buried?
Pre's burial site is at Sunset Memorial Park, which is a short drive inland from downtown. Obviously, if you visit, pay your respects in a quiet and unobtrusive way. In Eugene, Pre's Rock marks the site of the fatal 1975 car crash. Located on Skyline Blvd.
What is the fastest 5k time ever?
12 minutes 37 secondsThese are among the newest world records in distance running. Joshua Cheptegei became the first man to complete the 5000m in less than 12 minutes 37 seconds in August 2020.
What is the fastest high school 2 mile time?
8:29.46High School All-Time Top 10s — Boys2 MILES8:29.46*Lukas Verzbicas' (Sandburg, Orland Park, Illinois)20118:34.40German Fernandez (Riverbank, California)20088:36.30+Colin Sahlman (Newbury Park, California)20228:36.3Jeff Nelson (Burbank, California)19794 more rows
What is the world record for the fastest mile run?
The World's Fastest Mile TimeMale world record: 3:43.13 (Hichem El Guerrouj, 1999)Female world record: 4:12.33 (Sifan Hassan, 2019)Competitive high school male: 3:53.43 (Alan Webb, 2001)3.Competitive high school female: 4:33.87 (Katelyn Tuohy, 2018)4.
Where is Prefontaine buried?
Sunset Memorial Park, ORSteve Prefontaine / Place of burialYou are missed by so many, And you will never be forgotten.” Prefontaine is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in his hometown of Coos Bay.
Does Steve Prefontaine hold any records?
Overall Records: He owned every (8) American record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters and between two miles and six miles. He also held eight collegiate records while at Oregon, with his three-mile (12:53.4) and six-mile (27:09.4) still standing.
What are the Stop Pre shirts?
Born from a parody and enduring beyond the years after his death, the "STOP PRE" shirts have become an iconic symbol in the world of track and field dedicated to keeping the spirit of Steve Prefontaine alive in athletes everywhere.
What is the plaque in Coos Bay?
The plaques bear an image of Prefontaine from his high school yearbook and various quotes and records from his time in Coos Bay. The plaques were part of a grant from the Oregon Tourism Commission, the Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau, and the Prefontaine Memorial Committee.
What year did Prefontaine go to college?
After college (1974–75) Prefontaine c. 1975. Following his collegiate career at Oregon, Prefontaine prepared for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. While running for the Oregon Track Club, Prefontaine set American records in every race from 2,000 to 10,000 meters.
How many national titles did Prefontaine win?
While at Oregon Prefontaine won seven NCAA national titles: three in cross country, '70, '71 and '73; and four in track, '70, '71, '72 and '73. He was the first athlete to win four NCAA track titles in the same event.
How many miles did Prefontaine run?
In his four years at Oregon, Prefontaine never lost a collegiate (NCAA) race at 3 miles, 5,000 meters, 6 miles, or 10,000 meters. Returning for his senior year, he ended his collegiate career with only three defeats in Eugene, all in the mile.
Why was Prefontaine not allowed to play football?
In junior high, Prefontaine was on his school's football and basketball teams, but was rarely allowed to play because of his short stature. In the eighth grade, he noticed several high school cross country team members jog to practice past the football field, an activity he then viewed as mundane.
Where is Steve Prefontaine from?
Prefontaine was born on January 25, 1951, in Coos Bay, Oregon. His father, Raymond George Prefontaine (November 11, 1919 – December 21, 2004), was a welder after his time serving in the U.S. Army in World War II. Steve's mother, Elfriede Anna Marie Sennholz (March 4, 1925 – July 16, 2013), worked as a seamstress. The two returned to Coos Bay after Ray met Elfriede in Germany while serving with the U.S. occupation forces. The middle child and only son, he had two sisters, Neta and Linda, and they all grew up in a house built by their father.
Why do runners leave behind memorabilia?
Runners inspired by Prefontaine leave behind memorabilia to honor his memory and his continued influence , such as race numbers, medals, and running shoes. Paying such homage to Prefontaine has become a tradition that reaches a height during important or noteworthy running events in Eugene (e.g. the Olympic Trials or the Prefontaine Classic). As University of Oregon professor Daniel Wojcik documents in his study of the memorial, Pre's Rock has become both a grassroots shrine and pilgrimage site for athletes and non-athletes from around the world.
How much did Prefontaine weigh in eighth grade?
Prefontaine weighed only 90 pounds in the eighth grade, too light for football and too small for basketball. “It looked like I was headed for the streets,” he recalled. “Track was a last resort.”. Once Prefontaine began running, he never stopped.
Why did Prefontaine not win the gold medal?
He had run exceedingly well in races leading to Munich and was with the leaders throughout the final. But because of inexperience or a reluctance to gamble, he did not uncork the sustained kick he knew he needed—and had confidently predicted he would utilize—in the final mile. He lost the third‐place bronze medal in the last 10 yards.
How did Steve Prefontaine die?
Steve Prefontaine, America's finest distance runner and an outspoken critic of the track and field establishment, died early yesterday morning in an automobile accident in Eugene, Ore.
What happened to Prefontaine?
His convertible jumped a curb, hit a rock embankment and flipped. Prefontaine was pinned under the car.
What was the name of the event that a man gashed his foot on a metal bolt?
An example of his courage and determination was in the 1970 N.C.A.A. championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Six days before the meet, he gashed his foot on an exposed metal bolt near the swimming pool of his hotel, requiring six stitches.
How tall is Prefontaine?
The 5‐foot‐ 9‐inch, 145‐pound Prefontaine, one of the most popular trackmen, was born in Coos Bay, Ore., and confined most of his competitive career to the West Coast. He held every American outdoor distance record above 2,000 meters, finished fourth in the 5,000 at the 1972 Olympics in Munich and evoked loyalty and admiration from followers.
How did Paul Gibson die?
Last Friday, Paul Gibson, 26, professional hurdler, was killed in an auto accident in El Paso, Tex. Ron Copeland, 28, a former hurdler, died the same day in Walnut, Calif., apparently of a heart attack, after having run a 60‐yard challenge race.
What was Prefontaine's shoe?
Nike Pre Montreal design, inspired by the original shoe designed for him. Source: (Pinterest) In 1973, Prefontaine began working with Nike and Bowerman; Nike had started to mass produce the waffle-soled shoe Pre wore. In 1974, Pre continued to set records and started to promote his own meets.
How did Steve Prefontaine die?
Steve Prefontaine, a distance runner who excelled at the University of Oregon and hoped to win Olympic Gold in 1976, died in a car accident at the age of 24. Prefontaine was already one of the faces of his sport, which was becoming more and more popular with the public, and in death he joined the ranks of sporting folk heroes ...
What was Steve Prefontaine's legacy?
Steve Prefontaine left quite a legacy, including two feature films: 1997’s Prefontaine, and 1998’s W ithout Limits. He was also a prominent part of the running boom in the 1970s. In 1968, it was considered weird to run, and the Chicago Tribune profiled “joggers,” men who ran in the morning because they were concerned that police would think they ...
Where did Prefontaine go to college?
Prefontaine wanted to stay in state, and decided on the University of Oregon, which had recruited him, but not nearly as aggressively as the other schools. Coach Bill Bowerman wrote a letter to Pre telling him that Pre would undoubtedly become the world’s greatest runner if he decided to attend the University of Oregon;
How fast was Prefontaine?
Prefontaine used the unconventional running strategy of taking an early lead rather than pacing himself. He also had impressive leg speed and came within 3.5 seconds of the world record for the mile in the course of his career.
How many people ran in the 70s?
The National Running Data Center in Tucson estimated that 10 million Americans were runners in the late ‘70s, and even President Jimmy Carter was jogging.
How many runners were in the first New York Marathon?
The first New York Marathon only had 126 starters and by 1979, the number was limited to 14,000 runners. In 1977, The Complete Book of Running was published by Jim Fixx and it touted the health benefits of running, from losing weight to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
How did Steve Prefontaine die?
I put it here because the writer explains the accident in terms of MGB characteristics. Steve Prefontaine died in a car accident at the height of his running career in Eugene Oregon. The author of the article lived near the site of the accident.
What happens when a drunk driver hits a wall?
A drunk gets behind the wheel of an MGB, goes too fast into a hairpin curve, loses control & hits a 2'-3' wall which causes the car to flip over & kill him.
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Is Steve Prefontaine a competive?
I do note the author is not a trained accident scene investigator and so his conclusions may be based on what a competition driver might do (except that all cars are going the same direction in competition) and Steve Prefont aine was not a competive driver.
Do wider tires make a car more road worthy?
Also, wider tires do not make a car more road worthy. I read somewhere (this is also a hole in his theories) that the standard MGB out handled stock Mustangs up through the 90's, so that even though the suspension was designed in the 50's and dated (if you believe him) that doesn't mean that it was a poor design or not up to date in the 70's. Maybe the design was years ahead of other manufacturers designs.
Can people do amazing things?
There are some people who can do amazing things, they are still human and still have human weakness and still can make incredibly stupid decisions.
Can bots harvest your email address?
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the smilie in place of the real @
Why did Alvarado turn to the left?
Then, Alvarado said, he saw Prefontaine abruptly turn to the left to avoid the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.
What was the name of the shoe company that Prefontaine worked for?
With his friends in Eugene, Prefontaine was an early employee of a small shoe company that would later be called Nike. His efforts to support himself, change the place of running in mainstream culture, and involve athletes in the industry that was built on their work had spectacularly lasting consequences.
What is Prefontaine's personality?
Prefontaine would become the unusual personality that appealed to both the long-haired left and to the rugged lumberjacks and longshoremen of the right. Like his fans — “Pre’s People,” they often called themselves — Prefontaine had a strong independent streak that he didn’t try to hide, a chip on his shoulder that made him relatable to the typical Coos Bay resident.
What language did Prefontaine use?
W hen people talk about Prefontaine’s time at Oregon, they tend to use religious language: “divine intervention,” “a miracle,” “intervention by the hand of God,” “a supernatural occurrence.”. It was the right place, right time, right guy. Running was becoming more popular everywhere.
What was the record for the two mile run in high school?
Prefontaine garnered national attention when he set the high school record for the two-mile (8:41.5) in 1969. Letters from college recruiters poured in to the Prefontaine mailbox. He decided to stay close to home and attend Oregon, where Bill Bowerman, his high school coach’s coach and an increasingly well-known figure in the sport, was waiting.
How old was Prefontaine when he crashed?
Around midnight, Prefontaine, 24 , said his goodbyes, climbed into his butterscotch MG, and gave his friend Shorter a lift to Moore’s house, where Shorter was crashing for the night.
Where did Farr go to college?
After earning his bachelor’s degree at Yale and an MBA from Stanford, he returned to Coos Bay to take over the century-old family hardware store. Farr, who maintains a spry runner’s frame, also heads up a small group that puts on an annual 10K in town to honor Prefontaine.
Death scene
Eugene’s register-guard called his death “the end of an era”. At the time of his death, Prefontaine was probably the most popular athlete in Oregon and, along with Jim Ryun, Frank Shorter, Jeff Galloway and Bill Rodgers, was credited with fueling the national running boom of the 1970s.
Was married
She is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We do not know much about his past relationship and any prior engagements. As per our database, he has no children.
When did die
Prefontaine died tragically in 1975 at the age of 24 following a car accident. His car was lying under the rubble. By the time doctors arrived, he was declared brought dead. It was reported that his blood alcohol content was found to be 0.16 by the Eugene Police Department.
What is the biggest day of the year for the Prefontaine Memorial?
The biggest day of the year for that small coastal town is the Prefontaine Memorial 10-kilometer Run , when every September a thousand runners from across the country labor in the footsteps of the man that many believe was America’s best distance runner ever.
How many times did Prefontaine run?
Before his death, Prefontaine set American track records 14 different times, broke the four-minute mile nine times, ran 25 two-mile races under 8:40 and 10 five-kilometer races faster than 13:30. He also finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run at the 1972 Olympics.
How did Prefontaine die?
Ten years ago this month, Prefontaine died in a car accident at age 24, yet to the people here his presence has hardly diminished. The week leading up to the annual Prefontaine Classic track meet June 1 will be Prefontaine Week, with his memorabilia on display.
What is the Coos Bay?
Coos Bay is the kind of place where athletics is behind only cleanliness, godliness, and the Douglas fir tree in esteem. It’s the kind of place where at the Egyptian theater--Coos Bay’s last picture show--Marshfield High team pictures are given a place of honor in the lobby.
How many drinks do you need to have to have a 16 blood alcohol level?
The National Alcoholism Council in Santa Ana said that a 150-pound man would have to have at least five to six drinks to register a .16 blood alchol level. Loveall said that what remains with him most about that accident was the pungent smell of alcohol, although no containers of any kind were found in the car or at the accident scene.
Why did the fire department summon a ladder truck?
Loveall added that the department even went as far as to summon a fire department ladder truck so that the crime lab photographer could take aerial photos of the accident scene.
Where is Steve Prefontaine's memorial?
It’s located next to the Chamber of Commerce, and a copy is being built in Coos Bay’s sister city of Chochi, Japan.
Overview
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) was an American long-distance runner who from 1973 to 1975 set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and was preparing for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Track Club at the time of his death in 1975. Prefontaine's career, alongside those of Jim R…
Early life
Prefontaine was born on January 25, 1951, in Coos Bay, Oregon. His father, Raymond George Prefontaine (November 11, 1919 – December 21, 2004), was a welder who served in the U.S. Army in World War II. Steve's mother, Elfriede Anna Marie Sennholz (March 4, 1925 – July 16, 2013), worked as a seamstress. The two returned to Coos Bay after Ray met Elfriede in Germany while serving with the U.S. occupation forces. The middle child and only son, he had two sisters, Neta …
High school (1965–69)
When he got into Marshfield High School in the fall of 1965, Prefontaine joined the cross country team, coached by Walt McClure, Jr. McClure had run under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon in Eugene and his father, Walt McClure, Sr. had run under Bill Hayward, also at Oregon.
Prefontaine's freshman and sophomore years were decent, and he managed a personal best of 5:01 in the mile in his first year. Though starting as the seventh man, he progressed to be the se…
University of Oregon (1970–73)
Steve Prefontaine decided to enroll at the University of Oregon to train under coach Bill Bowerman (who in 1964 co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports, later to become known as Nike). He won four 5,000-meter titles in track three times in a row. At this time, he suffered only two more defeats in college (both in the mile), winning three Division I NCAA Cross Country Championships and four straight t…
After college (1974–75)
Following his collegiate career at Oregon, Prefontaine prepared for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. While running for the Oregon Track Club, Prefontaine set American records in every race from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. In 1974, Prefontaine gave a presentation at a banquet. It was held in Eugene the night prior to the Junior College Cross Country Championships. Prefontaine tal…
Death
In 1975, a group of traveling Finnish athletes took part in an NCAA Prep meet at Hayward Field in Eugene. After the event on Thursday, May 29, which included a 5,000-meter race that Prefontaine won, the Finnish and American athletes attended a party at the home of former Duck runner Geoff Hollister. Shortly after midnight, Prefontaine left the party to drive Frank Shorter to Kenny Moore's hom…
In popular culture
Steve Prefontaine's life story has been detailed in two feature films: 1997's Prefontaine (starring Jared Leto as Prefontaine) and 1998's Without Limits (starring Billy Crudup as Prefontaine), as well as the documentary film Fire on the Track.
"Prefontaine" is the fifth track off Madchild's 2013 album "Lawn Mower Man".
Minnesota Golden Gopher Head Football Coach P.J. Fleck uses “Prefontaine Pace” among his m…
External links
• Official website
• Prefontaine Classic
• University of Oregon Athletics: Steve Prefontaine, bio & pix
• Prefontaine at IMDb