1970-1974
Prefontaine was given many opportunities by top college recruits for track but he had decided to train under coach Bill Bowerman, who was the founder of Blue Ribbon Sports, now known as NIKE. He had entered the University of Oregon in the fall of 1969.
Prefontaine had won seven NCAA titles, three of which were for cross-country in 1970, ’71, & ’72 and four in the three-mile track in 1970, ’71, ’72, & ’73. Then in the Pac-8 track conference competition Prefontaine had achieved 3-mile titles in 1970, ’71, ’72, & ’73, along with the mile title in 1971.
March 21st, 1970 was Prefontaine’s first outdoors track race in which he managed to win the 2-mile at a triangular against Fresno State and Stanford in Fresno, California. Not only did he come out with a win in his first outdoors track race, he than “clocked” a 3:57.4 for the mile at Oregon Twilight, June 5th, 1970. Therefore he had finished in second during that race but setting the freshman record for Oregon along with a personal best. Prefontaine was not nearly done winning titles in the year of 1970; he had then won his first 3-mile NCAA title. The unique part of his first 3-mile NCAA win was that the Sunday before that race he had cut the bottom of his foot during a diving board accident which had resulted in receiving a dozen stitches and four days of rest in bed. Before the race he had wrapped his foot multiple times with tape and hoped that the cut would not re-open, but if it did than he said that he would keep running until he had either finished or ran out of blood, whichever came first.
“Pre was more concerned about the tape wadding up under the ball of his foot than he was about the cut.” Laughed Associate Coach Bill Dellinger.
Pre said: “I had the foot padded and taped. I haven’t looked at it yet. I’m kinda scared to do it. My foot really didn’t bother during the race, just during the last 165 yards.”
Prefontaine was determined to make it to the Olympics and he had finally achieved that at the age of 21. He competed at one Olympiad, the 1972 Summer Games in Munich. Prefontaine had ended up in fourth place but the point was that he had made it to the Olympics and still placed.
Prefontaine was an idol and inspiration to many with his love for running not only competitively but for fun and health wise as well.
Bibliography:
http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pr/steve-prefontaine-1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prefontaine#High_school_.281965.E2.80.931969.29
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/steve_prefontaine.html
http://www.prefontainerun.com/index.php
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=30594
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thehappyrower/5218868540/
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2506/4017987548_2f6ce2296f.jpg
WOW! this article it really great i like it
Hey, i found a great site with so many games
Just click this >>> DetikToto <<<