Steve Prefontaine

In the world of Distance Running today is the best day ever cause it is the annversary of Steve "Pre" Prefontaine's Death. 37 years ago today we lost a distance running idol, Pre. For those who don't know who he is well I will tell you. First of all, he is the most famous athlete in Oregon and at University Of Oregon and I think that is amazing that a distance runner is more famous than a football player at U of Oregon. He was a guy that held American/Collegiate Records from 2K-10K on the track and got U of Oregon's XC Team 3 Team Titles. He was in the '72 Muich Olympic in the 5K get 4th place. What I like about him is that he had pure heart and guts when he ran on the track, in workouts and in long runs. I don't think that track & field would be where it is without Steve Prefontaine. He fought the ATU, Amater Track Union, on a few things. He start the track meet USA vs. Finland, which would be renamed Pre Classic. He is one of the best of the best. Pre had two movie, a documery, and a meet named after. The movies are "Prefontaine" & "Without Limits" and the doc is "Fire On The Track." The meet us the Pre Classic which is happening this Friday Night and Saturday at Hayward Field. There is a book about his life called, "Pre" and another book called "Running After Perfontaine." Pre is so big of superstar in the sports world that Tom Cruise almost played him in the movie "Without Limits" but he only Produced the movie along with big movie producer Paula Wagner. In the words of Pre, "To give anything less than your best is to sacfice the gift" and no truer word then this not just for Distance Runner but I believe for everyone who is in a sport. RIP Pre. Always and forever