Steve Prefontaine
Born Jan. 25, 1951
It was 1975, and track & field was in the midst of glory days.
Among the hundreds of stars, one stood out further. His fierce running
style and dominant performances made him the star of every meet he
attended. When he ran, people stood up, clapped their hands, and
chanted his name -- Steve Prefontaine.
He was the future of running, although already the best. Nobody could
beat Steve Prefontaine at any race over a mile for one reason: he had
to win. This extraordinary effort made "Pre" a fan favorite.
Even if the fans weren’t chanting his name, the record books
were. In 1975, coming off first place individual finishes in 3 NCAA
Cross Country Championships and 4 straight NCAA Track & Field
Championships, Pre held the American record in every event over a mile:
2000m, 3000m, 2-mile, 3-mile, 10000m, and 6-mile. All this at the young
age of 24.
But it was in May, that same year, in which running would change
forever. The young, brash, Prefontaine, who had not yet even reached
his athletic peak, died in a tragic car accident.
Today, more than 25 years after his death, he continues to inspire
runners across the world with his impressive times, memorable quotes,
unique running ability, and most of all, his desire to win.
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