View source for Steve Prefontaine

{{Short description|American long-distance runner (1951–1975)}}
{{distinguish|Stéphane Préfontaine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Steve Prefontaine
|image       = Steve Prefontaine, 1973.jpg
|imagesize   = 200
|caption     = Prefontaine in 1973
|country     = {{USA}}
|sport       = [[Sport of Athletics|Athletics]]/[[Track and field#Running|Track]], [[Long-distance running]]
|event       = [[5000 meters]], [[10,000 meters]], [[Mile run|mile]], [[Two miles|2 mile]]
|nationality = [[Americans|American]]
|alias       =
|club        = [[Oregon Track Club]]
|coach       = [[Bill Bowerman]]
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1951|1|25|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Coos Bay, Oregon]], U.S.
|death_date  = {{death date and age|1975|5|30|1951|1|25|mf=y}}
|death_place = [[Eugene, Oregon]], U.S.
|collegeteam = [[Oregon Ducks track and field|Oregon Ducks]]
|height      = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
|weight      = {{convert|152|lb|abbr=on}}
|turnedpro   =
|retired     =
|pb = {{unbulleted list
|'''Outdoor'''
|'''[[1500 meters|1500 m]]:''' 3:38.1 ([[Helsinki]] 1973)
|'''[[Mile run|Mile]]:''' 3:54.6 ([[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]&nbsp;1973)
|'''[[3000 metres|3000 m]]:''' 7:42.6 ([[Milan]] 1974)
|'''[[Two miles|2-mile]]:''' 8:18.29 ([[Stockholm]] 1974)
|'''[[5000 meters|5000 m]]:''' 13:21.87 ([[Helsinki]] 1974)
|'''[[10,000 meters|10,000 m]]:''' 27:43.6 ([[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] 1974)
|'''Indoor'''
|'''[[Mile run|Mile]]:''' 3:58.6{{AthAbbr|i|indoors}} ([[College Park, Maryland|College&nbsp;Park]] 1975)
|'''[[Two miles|2-mile]]:''' 8:20.4{{AthAbbr|i|indoors}} ([[San&nbsp;Diego]] 1974)
}}
|olympics = '''1972 Munich''' <br /> 5000 m, 4th
|worlds =
|highestranking =
|coaching =
|updated =
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | the {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States national athletics team|United States]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1971 Pan American Games|1971&nbsp;Cali]] | [[Athletics at the 1971 Pan American Games|5000&nbsp;m]]}}
}}

'''Steve Roland Prefontaine<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympedia – Steve Prefontaine |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78915}}</ref>''' (January 25, 1951&nbsp;– May 30, 1975) was an American [[Long-distance running|long-distance runner]] who from 1973 to 1975 set American records at every distance from [[2000 metres|2,000]] to [[10,000 metres|10,000 meters]].<ref name=pdteoa>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FNZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6294%2C7846175 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |first1 = Blaine |last1 = Newnham |first2 = Don |last2 = Mack |title = Pre's death the end of an era |date = May 30, 1975 |page = 1A }}</ref><ref name=afdtfin>{{cite magazine |url= https://vault.si.com/vault/1975/06/09/a-final-drive-to-the-finish<!--https://www.si.com/vault/1975/06/09/617437/a-final-drive-to-the-finish-->|magazine = Sports Illustrated |last = Moore |first = Kenny |author-link = Kenny Moore (runner) |title = A final drive to the finish |date = June 9, 1975 |page = 22 }}</ref> He competed in the [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|1972 Summer Olympics]],<ref name=prelives>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AGxXAAAAIBAJ&pg=5187%2C7915835 |work = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Anderson |first = Curtis |title = Pre lives |date = May 30, 2005 |page = B1 }}</ref> and he 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 Ryun]], [[Frank Shorter]], and [[Bill Rodgers (runner)|Bill Rodgers]], generated considerable media coverage, which helped inspire the [[Running boom of the 1970s|1970s "running boom]]".<ref name="sivhsen">{{cite magazine |url = https://www.si.com/vault/2004/06/21/374463/heaven-sent-nearly-30-years-after-steve-prefontaines-death-his-gritty-spirit-still-inspires-runners-especially-at-the-pre-classic-in-eugene |magazine = Sports Illustrated |last = Moore |first = Kenny |author-link = Kenny Moore (runner) |title = Heaven sent |date = June 21, 2004 |page = 38 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Steve Prefontaine |publisher = National Distance Running Hall of Fame |url = http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2000/pre.html |access-date = February 19, 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110204021207/http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2000/pre.html |archive-date = February 4, 2011 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> He was killed in an automobile crash near his residence<!--1424 McKinley St.--> in [[Eugene, Oregon]] at the age of 24. One of the premier track meets in the world, the [[Prefontaine Classic]], is held annually in Eugene in his honor. Prefontaine's celebrity and charisma later resulted in two 1990s feature films about his short life.

==Early life==
Prefontaine was born on January 25, 1951, in  [[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]], Oregon.<ref>{{cite news |title = Tie-dyed Eugene unlikely home for football power |url = https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=6002755 |access-date = February 24, 2011 |publisher = ESPN |date = January 8, 2011 }}</ref> His father, Raymond George Prefontaine (November 11, 1919 – December 21, 2004), was a welder who served in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] in [[World War II]]. Steve's mother, Elfriede Anna Marie Sennholz (March 4, 1925 – July 16, 2013), worked as a [[dressmaker|seamstress]]. The two returned to Coos Bay after Ray met Elfriede in [[Germany]] while serving with the U.S.<!-- Army--> occupation {{nowrap|forces.<ref>{{cite book |last = Jordan |first = Tom |title = Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine |year = 1997 |publisher = Rodale Books |isbn = 978-0-87596-457-7 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TVNLqf5MiZUC&q=pre |edition = 2nd |page = 168 }}</ref>}} The middle child and only son, he had two sisters, Neta and Linda,<ref name=prelives/> and they all grew up in a house built by their father.<ref name=PreP5-6>{{harvp|Jordan|1997|pp=5–6}}.</ref>

Prefontaine was an exuberant person, even during his formative years. He was always moving around, partaking in different activities and events.<ref name=PreP5-6 /> In junior high, Prefontaine was on his school's football and basketball teams but was rarely allowed to play because of his short stature.<ref name=PreP5-6 /><ref name=RTMPreHS /><ref name=PreSI1970>{{cite magazine |last = Putnam |first = Pat |title = The Freshman And The Great Guru |magazine = Sports Illustrated |date = June 15, 1970 |volume = 32 |issue = 24 |url = https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/06/15/the-freshman-and-the-great-guru<!--https://www.si.com/vault/1970/06/15/611398/the-freshman-and-the-great-guru http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083720/index.htm--> |access-date = October 10, 2014 }}</ref> In the eighth grade, he noticed several high school [[cross country running|cross country]] team members jog to practice past the football field, an activity he then viewed as mundane. Later that year, he realized he could compete well in long-distance races during a three-week conditioning period in his [[physical education]] class.<ref name=PreP5-6 /> By the second week of the daily mile runs, Prefontaine could finish second in the group. With this newfound success and athletic ability, he fell in love with cross country running.<ref name=PreSI1970 />

==High school (1965–69)==
[[File:StevePrefontaine 1969.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Prefontaine in 1969]]
When he got into [[Marshfield High School (Coos Bay, Oregon)|Marshfield High School]] in the fall of 1965, Prefontaine joined the cross country team, coached by Walt McClure Jr.<ref name=PreP7-9>{{harvp|Jordan|1997|pp=7–9}}.</ref> McClure had run under coach [[Bill Bowerman]] at the [[Oregon Ducks track and field|University of Oregon]] in Eugene and his father, Walt McClure Sr. had run under [[Bill Hayward]], also at Oregon.<ref name=RTMPreHS>{{cite journal |last = Musca |first = Michael |title = In the Beginning |journal = Running Times Magazine |date = April 2002 |url = http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=8992 |access-date = February 22, 2011 |archive-date = February 5, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110205084512/http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=8992 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

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 second by the end of the year and placed 53rd in the state championship.<ref name=PreP7-9 /> In his sophomore year, he failed to qualify for the state meet in his event, the two-mile. However, his coach recalls that it was his sophomore year when his potential in the sport began to surface.<ref name=PreP7-9 />

With the advice of Walt McClure, Prefontaine's high school coach, he took it upon himself to train hard over the summer.<ref name=PreP7-9 /> He went through his [[Junior (education year)|junior]] cross country season undefeated and won the state title.<ref name=PreP7-9 /><ref name=GoducksPreBio>{{cite web |title = Steve Prefontaine Bio & Pix |publisher = University of Oregon Athletics |url = http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30594&SPID=243&SPSID=4584 |access-date = February 19, 2007 }}</ref>

In his senior year, many of his highest goals were set. He obtained a national record at the Corvallis Invitational with a time of 8:41.5, only one and a half seconds slower than his goal, and 6.9 seconds better than the previous record.<ref name=RTMPreHS /><ref name=GoducksPreBio /> He won two more state titles that year after another undefeated season in both the one and two mile {{nowrap|distances.<ref name=RTMPreHS /><ref name=rgwch69>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=igFYAAAAIBAJ&pg=3452%2C1008839 |work = The Bulletin |location = Bend, Oregon |agency = UPI |title = Roseburg wins state Class A-1 championship |date = June 2, 1969 |page = 10 }}</ref>}}

Some forty colleges across the nation [[recruiting (college athletics)|recruited]] Prefontaine,<ref name=PreSI1970 /><ref name=PreLOI>{{cite news |title = Prefontaine signs letter |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Df5XAAAAIBAJ&pg=5201,4649841 |newspaper = The Bulletin |location = Bend, Oregon |agency = UPI |date = May 2, 1969 |page = 8 }}</ref> and he received numerous phone calls, letters, and drop-in visits from coaches. He referred many of his calls to McClure, who wanted Prefontaine to attend the University of Oregon. McClure turned away those universities that began trying to recruit him late.<ref name=PreSI1970 /><ref name=PreP11>{{harvp|Jordan|1997|p=11}}.</ref> McClure maintained that he did not sway Prefontaine's collegiate choice, except to ask Steve where all the runners went to college.<ref name=RTMPreHS />

Prefontaine wanted to stay in-state for college<ref name=PreP11 /> and attend the University of Oregon.<ref name=PreSI1970 /> He had not heard much from Bill Bowerman, the head coach for the University of Oregon. Prefontaine only received letters from Oregon once a month, whereas other universities such as [[Villanova University|Villanova]] were persistent in recruiting him. As a result, Prefontaine did not know how much Bill Bowerman wanted him to attend Oregon.<ref name=PreSI1970 /><ref name=PreP11 /> Bowerman stated that he did not recruit Prefontaine differently from anyone else. It was a matter of principle for him to advise recruits where to attend college, wherever it may be, and to not bombard the recruits with correspondence.<ref name=PreSI1970 /> He had followed Prefontaine's career since he was a sophomore and agreed with McClure in his assessment of Steve being a highly talented athlete.<ref name=PreP11 />

It was not until Prefontaine read Bowerman's letter that he decided to attend the University of Oregon. Bowerman wrote that he was 'certain' Prefontaine would become the world's greatest distance runner if he decided to run at Oregon. Although it was an odd promise, Prefontaine was up for the challenge.<ref name=PreSI1970 /><ref name=PreP11 /> Sometime after Prefontaine announced that he signed a [[National Letter of Intent|letter of intent]] to attend Oregon on the first of May in 1969,<ref name=PreLOI /><ref name=prefwenr>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2kRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3321%2C135923 |work = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Caraher |first = Pat |title = Prefontaine will enroll at Oregon |date = May 1, 1969 |page = 1D }}</ref> Bowerman wrote a letter addressed to the community of [[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]] describing his appreciation for their role in helping Steve become a great runner.<ref name=PreP11 />

==University of Oregon (1969–1973)==
{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}
[[File:Steve Prefontaine Oregon.jpg|thumb|200px|Prefontaine at Oregon]]
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, Inc.|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)|Division I]] NCAA Cross Country Championships and four straight three-mile/5000-meter titles in track. He was a member of the [[Pi Kappa Alpha]] [[Fraternities and sororities in North America|fraternity]].

Prefontaine became known as a very aggressive front runner, insisting on going out hard from the start and not relinquishing leads, reminiscent of the renowned 1956 Olympic gold medalist [[Vladimir Kuts]], another famous front runner at 5,000 meters.  Prefontaine said, "No one will ever win a 5,000 meter race by running an easy first two miles. Not against me." He would later state, "I am going to work so that it's a pure guts race. In the end, if it is, I'm the only one that can win it".  Along 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.

A local celebrity, chants of "Pre! Pre! Pre!" became a frequent feature at [[Hayward Field]], a place where famous runners ran. Fans liked to wear T-shirts that read "LEGEND" or "GO PRE", though there was one instance where a group of fans jokingly put on shirts that read "STOP PRE". Prefontaine found humor in the shirts and, when offered, decided to wear one for his victory lap.  Prefontaine rapidly gained national attention and appeared on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' at age 19 in June 1970.<ref name=PreSI1970 />  He was on the cover of ''[[Track and Field News]]'s'' November 1969 issue.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160106014328/https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/28-covers/136-past-covers-1967 1969 Covers (18-issue year)]. trackandfieldnews.com</ref>

===1972 Summer Olympics===
In 1971, he began his training for the following year's Olympic Games in [[Munich]], which had special meaning for his family (his mother was German, and his parents had met and married in Germany). Prefontaine set the American record of 13:22.8<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goducks.com/sports/2003/12/18/30594.aspx|title=Steve Prefontaine Bio & Pix|website=goducks.com|language=en|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> in the [[5,000 meters]] at the 1972 [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|Olympic Trials]] in Eugene on July 9.<ref name=pwdyiof>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x6xVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6386%2C2454168 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = Pre wears down Young in 5,000 final |date = July 10, 1972 |page = 1B }}</ref> An underdog at the [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Olympics]] in [[Munich]] in September,<ref name=ipvteu>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qt1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6260%2C2165388 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = It's Pre versus the Europeans |date = September 10, 1972 |page = 1C }}</ref> Prefontaine took the lead in the [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5,000 m final]] during the last mile and ended the slow pace of the first two miles, [[negative split]]ting the race. In second place at the start of the bell lap, he fell back to third with 200 meters to go. [[Lasse Virén]] took the lead in the final turn over eventual silver medalist [[Mohammed Gammoudi]]. Finding himself struggling to keep up, Prefontaine ran out of gas with only 10 meters to go as Britain's hard-charging [[Ian Stewart (athlete)|Ian Stewart]] overtook him and moved into third place, depriving Prefontaine of an Olympic bronze medal.<ref name=pwfnss>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q91VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6677%2C2619911 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = Pre's warning for 1976: 'He'd better watch out' |date = September 11, 1972 |page = 1B }}</ref><ref name=onlyfst>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ObBEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6277%2C76828 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = Only first |date = June 1, 1975 |page = 1B }}</ref> Prefontaine later said "That was the most disappointed I have ever been. I guess I underestimated the strength of Virén and Gammoudi, and Stewart was way too good for me at the end. That last 200 metres, I felt exhausted. They didn't allow me to run the race the way I had planned to, I was chasing them all the way." Following his fourth-place finish in the Olympic Games, Prefontaine went back to the [[University of Oregon]] with a newfound enthusiasm for running after his disappointing showing at the Olympics.{{sfnp|Jordan|1997|pp=61-62}} This disappointment in his performance drove Pre to train harder than ever for his senior year of athletics, often logging over 10 miles per morning before he started his day.

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 {{nowrap|year,<ref name=lsdcwdd>{{cite magazine |url = https://www.si.com/vault/1973/05/28/614638/pres-last-duckwaddle |magazine = Sports Illustrated |last = Reid |first = Ron |title = Pre's last Duck-waddle |date = May 28, 1973 |page = 84 }}</ref>}} he ended his collegiate career with only three defeats in Eugene, all in the mile. It was during this year that Prefontaine began a protracted fight with the [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU), which demanded that athletes who wanted to remain "[[Amateur sports|amateur]]" for the Olympics not be paid for appearances in track meets. Some viewed this arrangement as unfair, because the participants drew large crowds that generated millions of dollars in revenue, with the athletes being forced to shoulder the burden of all their own expenses without assistance. At the time, the AAU was rescinding athletes' amateur status if they were endorsed in any way. Because Prefontaine was accepting free clothes and footwear from [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], he was subject to the AAU's ruling.

=== Visits to Oregon State Penitentiary ===
Steve Prefontaine had first visited the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon as part of a sociology project. Steve Prefontaine enjoyed spending time with the prisoners so much that he continued to come back solo to the prison while still enrolled at the University of Oregon to put on seminars and to teach the inmates about running. Steve Prefontaine believed that running could help the prisoners focus on training and racing instead of getting into trouble with all the other prison distractions that went on during the day. One prisoner recounts that Steve Prefontaine treated them like regular people and would sit down and talk about life with them. Furthermore, Steve Prefontaine's natural "rebellious nature"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rebels Are Never Done |url=https://www.nike.com/a/rebels-are-never-done-prefontaine |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=www.nike.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and charisma also helped him bond on a personal level with prisoners through conversation. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillespie |first=Emily |date=2016-06-08 |title=Running with criminals: the prison that helps inmates rehabilitate a mile at a time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jun/08/oregon-state-penitentiary-salem-running-club-inmates |access-date=2025-10-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==After college (1974–75)==
[[File:Steve Prefontaine 1975.jpg|thumb|Prefontaine signing a child's arm, 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.<ref name=GoducksPreBio />
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 talked about the importance of cross country through his own eyes. After his death, the notes Prefontaine made were given to his family.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.prefontainerun.com/speech_notes/index.html |title = Prefontaine Speech Notes From 1974 |publisher = Prefontainerun.com |access-date = November 15, 2013 |archive-date = September 23, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130923165358/http://www.prefontainerun.com/speech_notes/index.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==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 [[Oregon Ducks track and field|Duck]] runner Geoff Hollister.<!--at 3980 Dillard Road--><ref name=afdtfin/><ref name=pdteoa/> Shortly after midnight,<ref name=sdcap530>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MpJYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7206%2C4104608 |newspaper = Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency = Associated Press |title = Prefontaine dies in auto accident |date = May 30, 1975 |page = 17 }}</ref> Prefontaine left the party to drive [[Frank Shorter]] to [[Kenny Moore (runner)|Kenny Moore]]'s home on <!--1570-->Prospect Drive, then descended narrow Skyline Boulevard alone, east of the university campus near [[Hendricks Park]].<ref name=pdteoa/><ref name=afdtfin/> While in the extended right curve near the base, his gold-colored 1973 [[MG MGB|MGB]] convertible crossed the center line, jumped the curb, hit a rock wall ({{coord|44.0433|-123.0549}}) and flipped, trapping him underneath it.  One of the first people at the scene was 20-year-old Karl Bylund, who raced from the scene in his car to his residence to fetch his father, a doctor.<ref name=pdteoa/><ref name=crash_article1>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=afwjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1605%2C5174223 |newspaper = Milwaukee Journal |title = Tests show Prefontaine was drunk |date = May 31, 1975 |page = 11 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A nearby resident, Bill Alvarado (1936–2006), arrived next at the scene (he had heard Bylund's car screeching off) and reported that he found the man flat on his back, unconscious and pinned beneath the wreck. Prefontaine was pronounced dead at the scene on the arrival of paramedics. He was 24 years old at the time of his death in the crash. His [[blood alcohol content]] was found by the Eugene Police Department to {{nowrap|be 0.16%.<ref name=afdtfin/><ref name=crash_article1 /><ref name=LAT>{{cite news |last = Scott |first = Gerald |title = The Legend Lives On: Even though Steve Prefontaine died almost 10 years ago, the memory of his life and controversy surrounding his death are as alive as ever |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-06-sp-4511-story.html |access-date = January 12, 2013 |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = May 6, 1985 }}</ref>}} The official cause of his death was [[traumatic asphyxia]]tion. No other injuries contributed to his death.<ref name=bbkofg>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FdZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2870%2C8116990 |work = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Frei |first = Dave |title = He was Bill Bowerman's 'kind of guy' |date = May 31, 1975 |page = 1B }}</ref>

Prefontaine's body was buried in his hometown of Coos Bay at Sunset Memorial Park.<ref name=pllbwib>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OrBEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4552%2C699343 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = Pre's last lap back where it began |date = June 3, 1975 |page = 1C }}</ref> A day after his funeral in Coos Bay, a memorial service at Hayward Field in Eugene drew thousands.<ref name=memserv>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O7BEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2467%2C1049951 |newspaper = Eugene-Register Guard |title = Moore: I knew he was happy |date = June 4, 1975 |page = 1D }}</ref>

===Aftermath===
Eugene's ''[[The Register-Guard|Register-Guard]]'' called his death "the end of an era".<ref name=pdteoa/> At his death, Prefontaine was probably the most popular athlete in Oregon and, along with [[Jim Ryun]], [[Frank Shorter]], [[Jeff Galloway]] and [[Bill Rodgers (runner)|Bill Rodgers]], was credited with sparking the national [[running boom of the 1970s]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://gorun.me/wordpress/running/running-hero-steve-prefontaine/ |title = Gorun.me |access-date = March 26, 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130212060451/http://gorun.me/wordpress/running/running-hero-steve-prefontaine |archive-date = February 12, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.runningthehighlands.com/steve-prefontaine-(usa)/ |title = Steve Prefontaine (USA) |publisher = Runningthehighlands.com |access-date = November 15, 2013 |archive-date = September 29, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130929151929/http://www.runningthehighlands.com/steve-prefontaine-%28usa%29/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> An annual track event, the [[Prefontaine Classic]], has been held in his memory since 1975. Known as the "Hayward Field Restoration Meet" in its first two years, it was rebranded as the "Bowerman Classic" for 1975 and set for June 7.<ref name=agssn>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2aNVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6108%2C6892795 |newspaper = Eugene-Register Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = A great season |date = April 25, 1975 |page = 1D }}</ref> Two days after Prefontaine's death, it was renamed by the Oregon Track Club on June 1, with Bill Bowerman's approval, and the first "Pre Classic" was held six days later.<ref name=memserv/><ref name=theprecls75>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O7BEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6088%2C1049020 |newspaper = Eugene-Register Guard |last = Newnham |first = Blaine |title = The Pre Classic |date = June 4, 1975 |page = 1D }}</ref>

During his career, Prefontaine won 120 of the 153 races he ran ({{winning percentage|120|33}}), and never lost a collegiate (NCAA) track race longer than one mile at the University of Oregon. In 2020, SuperWest Sports included Prefontaine in its list of The Greatest Pac-12 Male Track and Field Athletes of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Steve |date=April 10, 2020 |title=Greatest Pac-12 Track & Field Athletes of All Time: Part I |url=https://superwestsports.com/steve-ritchie-column-2/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=SuperWest Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

Even after Steve Prefontaine's death, the Oregon State Penitentiary run club that Steve Prefontaine helped create still continues to operate and hold races to this day. Today, the prison run club hosts 10 races per year that inmates are allowed to sign up for and includes up to 20 outside guests per race. Each day of the race holds a 5k race and a 10k race that consists of loops around the prison yard. In order to qualify to participate for the run club, an inmate needs to record 18 months of good behavior.  <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rasmussen |first=Matt |date=2025-02-12 |title=Running Behind Bars: A Unique Experience at the Oregon State Penitentiary Races |url=https://runoregonblog.com/2025/02/12/running-behind-bars-a-unique-experience-at-the-oregon-state-penitentiary-races/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Run Oregon |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Memorials===

====Pre's Rock====
[[File:PreRock.jpg|thumb|Pre's Rock in 2007]]
''Pre's Rock'' is a memorial at the base of the roadside outcrop where Prefontaine died.<ref name=lndofpr>{{cite magazine |url = https://www.si.com/vault/2005/05/30/8262082/land-of-the-pre |magazine = Sports Illustrated |last = Baker |first = Mark |title = Land of the Pre |date = May 30, 2005 |page = 18 }}</ref> An engraved stone memorial with a picture of Prefontaine, it reads:

{{spaces|17}}"PRE"
{{blockquote|<poem>For your dedication and loyalty
To your principles and beliefs...
For your love, warmth, and friendship
For your family and friends...
You are missed by so many
And you will never be forgotten...</poem>}}

[[File:Pre's Rock Oly Trials 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Pre's Rock in June 2012, during the [[2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]]]]
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/b/3853/files/2013/08/Wojcik-Pres-Rock.pdf|title=Pre's Rock: Pilgrimage, Ritual, and Runners' Traditions at the Roadside Shrine for Steve Prefontaine." In Shrines and Pilgrimage in Contemporary Society: New Itineraries into the Sacred, ed. Peter Jan Margry, pp. 201–237. University of Amsterdam Press, 2008.|last=Wojcik|first=Daniel|date=2008|website=University of Oregon; Folklore and Public Culture Program}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://folklore.uoregon.edu/pres-rock-2/|title=Images of Pre's Rock|last=Wojcik|first=Daniel|date=2012|website=University of Oregon; Folklore and Public Culture Program}}</ref>

Pre's Rock was dedicated in December 1997 and is maintained by Eugene Parks and Recreation as ''Prefontaine Memorial Park''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=677&PageID=1651&cached=true&mode=2&userID=2 |title = Prefontaine Memorial Park |publisher = City of Eugene |access-date = March 18, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081227081334/http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=677&PageID=1651&cached=true&mode=2&userID=2 |archive-date = December 27, 2008 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> The rock ({{coord|44.0433|-123.0549}}) is a mile (1.6&nbsp;km) due east of Hayward Field, just across the [[Willamette River]] from the east end of [[Pre's Trail]]. On Skyline Boulevard, it is approximately {{convert|150|ft|round=5}} from its intersection with Birch Lane.<ref name=pdteoa/>

====Other memorials====
The Prefontaine Memorial, featuring a relief of his face, records, and date of birth, is located at the Coos Bay Visitor Center in Coos Bay. In 2008, ten memorial plaques were laid along the Prefontaine Memorial Race route, the former training grounds of Prefontaine. 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.

Each year on the third Saturday of September in Coos Bay, over a thousand runners engage in the Prefontaine Memorial Run, a 10k run honoring his accomplishments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prefontainerun.com/runinfo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114084850/http://www.prefontainerun.com/runinfo.html|url-status=dead|title=Prefontaine Run|archive-date=January 14, 2010}}</ref>

The [[Coos Art Museum]] in Coos Bay contains a section dedicated to Prefontaine. This section includes medals he won during his career and the pair of spikes he wore when setting an American record for the 5,000 meters at Hayward Field.

Prefontaine was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1983, where several exhibits showcase his shoes, shirts, and other memorabilia. He was also inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in upper Manhattan<ref name=USATF>{{cite web |title = Steve Prefontaine |url = http://www.legacy.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=130 |publisher = USATF |access-date = March 25, 2011 |archive-date = May 23, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210523205550/http://legacy.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=130 |url-status = dead }}</ref> where one of his Oregon track uniforms is on display.

The [[Pete Susick Stadium]] at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay dedicated their track to honor Prefontaine, in April 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prefontainerun.com/ded_transcription.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302120021/http://www.prefontainerun.com/ded_transcription.html|url-status=dead|title=The Steve Prefontaine Track|archive-date=March 2, 2009}}</ref>

Nike used video footage in a commercial titled "Pre Lives" advertising his spirit for their product. On the 30th anniversary of his death in 2005, Nike placed a memorial advertisement in ''Sports Illustrated'',<ref name=sivnike>{{cite magazine |url = https://www.si.com/vault/issue/721159/67/2 |magazine = Sports Illustrated |title = Where are all the rock star runners? |type = Advertisement |date = May 30, 2005 |page = 52 }}</ref> Eugene's ''Register-Guard'',<ref name=ergrsrnr>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AGxXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6775%2C7931830 |work = Eugene Register-Guard |title = Where are all the rock star runners? |agency = (advertisement) |date = May 30, 2005 |page = B6 }}</ref> and aired a television commercial in his honor. [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]'s headquarters have a building named after him.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nikebiz.com/company_overview/facts.html |title = Company Overview |work = Nikebiz Company Overview |access-date = March 7, 2011 |archive-date = September 2, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110902011808/http://www.nikebiz.com/company_overview/facts.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The day after Prefontaine's death, the ''Register-Guard'' printed ''Ode to S. Roland'', a poem by chief American rival [[Dick Buerkle]].<ref name=otsrol>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FdZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2870%2C8116990 |work = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Buerkle |first = Dick |author-link = Dick Buerkle |title = Ode to S. Roland |date = May 31, 1975 |page = 1B }}</ref>

Prefontaine remains an iconic figure at the University of Oregon to this day. In 2020, the university polled alumni and fans on social media, asking them which four UO alumni they would place on a national Mount Rushmore for the university. Prefontaine was one of the four winners, along with Nike co-founder [[Phil Knight]]; current NFL player [[Marcus Mariota]], the [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]] [[Heisman Trophy]] winner; and [[Sabrina Ionescu]], who had just completed an epic college basketball career for the [[Oregon Ducks women's basketball|Ducks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://around.uoregon.edu/sabrina-ionescu |title=The Gospel of Sab |first=Damian|last=Foley|work=Around the O |publisher=University of Oregon |date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Steve Prefontaine's life story has been detailed in two feature films: 1997's ''[[Prefontaine (film)|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|P.J. Fleck]] uses “Prefontaine Pace” among his many motivational sayings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2017/01/27/pj-fleck-gophers-coach-jargon/ |title=A peek into new Gophers coach P.J. Fleck's jargon |first=Andy |last=Greder |publisher=TwinCities.com |date=January 27, 2017|access-date=June 15, 2021}}</ref>

In the song "Strong," by country singer [[Charles Wesley Godwin]], Prefontaine is mentioned in the chorus with the lines:
"But I can see you coming around the bend, and kicking until the end, like '''Prefontaine''' from an outside lane, proving them wrong, coming on strong"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Charles-Wesley-Godwin/Strong | title=Charles Wesley Godwin - Strong lyrics &#124; Musixmatch }}</ref>

==Personal bests==
At the time of his death in May 1975, Prefontaine held every American outdoor track record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters. His personal best times over each distance, including those records, are below.<ref name=GoducksPreBio />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Surface
! Event
! Time
! Date
! Location
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=9 align=center|&nbsp;Outdoor&nbsp;<br />track
| align=center|1,500 m ||align=right|3:38.1|| align=right| {{nowrap|June 28, 1973}} || align=center|[[Helsinki]] || 11th-place finish<ref name=mwtpah>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKlVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2360%2C7484919 |newspaper = Eugene-Register Guard |title = Wilkins wins at Toronto; Pre 11th at Helsinki |date = June 29, 1973 |page = 1D }}</ref>
|-
| align=center|Mile ||align=right|3:54.6||align=right|June 20, 1973 || align=center|[[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] || runner-up to [[Dave Wottle]]<ref name=wkom>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bKlVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4411%2C5279855 |newspaper = Eugene-Register Guard |last = Conrad |first = John |title = Wottle (3:53.3) still king of the milers |date = June 21, 1973 |page = 1B }}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2,000 m ||align=right|5:01.4||align=right|May 9, 1975|| align=center|[[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]] || American record<ref name=phcabs>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19750510&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |last = Conrad |first = John |title = Pre's homecoming a big success |date = May 10, 1975 |page = 1D }}</ref><ref name="goducks">{{cite web |url = http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30594 |title = Steve Prefontaine Bio & Pix – |work = GoDucks.com |publisher = University of Oregon |access-date = November 15, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| align=center|3,000 m ||align=right|7:42.6||align=right|July 2, 1974 || align=center|[[Milan, Italy|Milan]] || American record, broken by [[Rudy Chapa]], May 10, 1979<ref name="goducks"/><ref name="arrs"/>
|-
| align=center|Two miles || align=right|8:18.3<!--8:18.29-->||align=right|July 18, 1974  || align=center|[[Stockholm]] || American record, broken by [[Marty Liquori]], July 17, 1975<ref name="goducks"/><ref name="arrs" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/marty-liquori-014350388|title=IAAF: Marty Liquori – Profile|website=iaaf.org|access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|Three miles ||align=right|12:51.4||align=right|June 8, 1974 ||align=center|Eugene || American record<ref name="goducks"/>
|-
| align=center|5,000 m ||align=right|13:21.9<!--13:21.87-->||align=right| {{nowrap|June 26, 1974}} ||align=center|Helsinki || American record, broken by Duncan Macdonald, August 10, 1976<ref name="goducks"/><ref name="arrs">{{cite web|url=http://arrs.run/RecProg/RP_USAT.htm|website=arrs.run|title=USA Record Progressions- Track}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|Six miles ||align=right| 26:51.4||align=right|April 27, 1974  || align=center|Eugene || American record, set in the first six miles of his 10,000 m record run (below)<ref name="goducks"/><ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130419061850/http://stevepre.com/bio_times.html |archive-date = April 19, 2013 |url = http://stevepre.com/bio_times.html |title = Best times }}</ref>
|-
| align=center| {{nowrap|10,000 m}} ||align=right|&nbsp;27:43.6||align=right|April 27, 1974 ||align=center|Eugene || American record, broken by [[Craig Virgin]], June 17, 1979<ref name="goducks"/><ref name="arrs"/>
|}
* <small>Conversions: {{convert|1|mi|m|1}}, {{convert|2|mi|m|1}}, {{convert|3|mi|m|0}}, {{convert|6|mi|m|0}}</small>

==Competition record==

===Notable performances===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Competition
!Venue
!Position
!Event
!Time
!Notes
|-
|1968
|Corvallis Invitational
|[[Corvallis, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|[[Two miles|2 mile]]
|9:01.3
|Oregon high school record
|-
|rowspan=3|1969
|Corvallis Invitational
|[[Corvallis, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:41.5
|US high school record
|-
|Coos County Meet
|[[Coos Bay, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|[[Mile run|Mile]]
|4:06.9
|Oregon high school record
|-
|[[USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet Series|US-USSR-Commonwealth Meet]]
|[[Los Angeles, California]]
|align=center|5th
|5000 m
|14:40.0
|First international track meet
|-
|1970
|Oregon Twilight Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=cc9900 align=center|2nd
|Mile
|3:57.4
|First sub-4 min. mile
|-
|rowspan=4|1971
|Oregon vs. UCLA
|[[Westwood, Los Angeles, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|Mile
|3:59.1
|
|-
|Oregon Twilight Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|Mile
|3:57.4
|
|-
|US vs. USSR All Stars
|[[Berkeley, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|[[5000 meters|5000 m]]
|13:30.4
|American record
|-
|[[1971 Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]
|[[Cali, Colombia]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|5000 m
|13:52.53
|
|-
|rowspan=10|1972
|Oregon Indoor Invitational
|[[Portland, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:26.6
|[[List of United States collegiate records in track and field|Collegiate record]]
|-
|All-Comers Spring Break Meet
|[[Bakersfield, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|6 mile
|27:22.4
|[[List of United States collegiate records in track and field|Collegiate record]]
|-
|Oregon Twilight Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|Mile
|3:56.7
|
|-
|Oregon vs. Washington St.
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|5000 m
|13:29.6
|American record
|-
|Rose Festival
|[[Gresham, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|3000 m
|7:45.8
|American record
|-
|[[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|US Olympic Trials]]
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|5000 m
|13:22.8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trackfield.brinkster.net/OlympicTrials.asp?TourCode=T&Year=1972&Gender=M&TF=T&P=F&By=Y&Count=|title=Track and Field Statistics|website=trackfield.brinkster.net|access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
|American record
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Bislett Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Oslo, Norway]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|1500 m
|3:39.4
|
|-
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|[[3000 meters|3000 m]]
|7:44.2
|American record
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|Olympic Games]]
|[[Munich, Germany]]
|align=center|4th
|[[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
|13:28.4
|
|-
|Zauli Memorial
|[[Rome|Rome, Italy]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|5000 m
|13:26.4
|Three days after [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|Olympics]]
|-
|rowspan=5|1973
|[[Los Angeles Invitational|Sunkist Invitational Indoor Meet]]
|[[Los Angeles, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:27.4
|
|-
|LA Times Invitational Indoor Games
|[[Inglewood, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|Mile
|3:59.2
|
|-
|Oregon Twilight II Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:24.6
|
|-
|-
|[[Prefontaine Classic|Hayward Field Restoration Meet]]
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|Mile
|3:54.6
|personal best<ref name=wkom/>
|-
|World Games
|[[Helsinki|Helsinki, Finland]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|5000 m
|13:22.4
|American record
|-
|rowspan=7|1974
|Sunkist Invitational Indoor Meet
|[[Los Angeles, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:33.0
|
|-
|LA Times Invitational Indoor Games
|[[Inglewood, California]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|Mile
|3:59.5
|
|-
|Oregon Twilight Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|[[10,000 meters|10,000&nbsp;m]]
|27:43.6
|American record; set American 6 mile record (26:51.4) en route
|-
|[[Prefontaine Classic|Hayward Field Restoration Meet]]
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|3 mile
|12:51.4
|American record
|-
|World Games
|[[Helsinki|Helsinki, Finland]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|5000 m
|13:21.9
|American record
|-
|International Meet
|[[Milan|Milan, Italy]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|3000 m
|7:42.6
|American record
|-
|July Games
|[[Stockholm|Stockholm, Sweden]]
|bgcolor=cc9900 align=center|3rd
|2 mile
|8:18.4
|American record
|-
|rowspan=6|1975
|CYO Invitational Indoor Meet
|[[College Park, Maryland]]
|bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd
|Mile
|3:58.6
|
|-
|Sunkist Invitational Indoor Meet
|[[Los Angeles, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:27.4
|
|-
|Oregon Twilight Meet
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|10,000 m
|28:09.4
|
|-
|Finnish Tour
|[[Coos Bay, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2000 m
|5:01.4
|American record<ref name=phcabs/>
|-
|[[Modesto Relays|California Relays]]
|[[Modesto, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|2 mile
|8:36.4
|
|-
|NCAA Prep
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|5000 m
|13:23.8
|Final race and 25th straight win in a distance over a mile
|}

===US National Championships===
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes}}
|-
|1969
|[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|AAU Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Miami, Florida]]
|align=center|4th
|3 mile
|13:43.0
|{{ref label|a|a|a}}<ref name="usnationalchampionships">[http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=11 US National Championships results Men's 5000 m] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523200913/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=11 |date=May 23, 2013 }}. [[Track and Field News]]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1970
|[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|AAU Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Bakersfield, California]]
|align=center|5th
|3 mile
|13:26.0
|<ref name="usnationalchampionships"/>
|-
|1971
|[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|AAU Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Eugene, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|3 mile
|12:58.6
|{{ref label|b|b|b}}<ref name="usnationalchampionships"/>
|-
|1973
||[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|AAU Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Bakersfield, California]]
|bgcolor=gold align=center|1st
|3 mile
|12:53.4
|{{ref label|c|c|c}}<ref name="usnationalchampionships"/>
|}
:{{note label|a|a|a}}Third fastest 3-mile time ever run by an American high schooler; Prefontaine's first non-high school track meet
:{{note label|b|b|b}}US National championships meet record; fifth fastest 3-mile time ever run and the second fastest by an American; Prefontaine's first sub-13 minute 3-mile<ref name="usnationalchampionships"/>
:{{note label|c|c|c}}Broke his own 1971 US National championships meet record; second fastest 3-mile time ever run by an American<ref name="usnationalchampionships"/>

===NCAA championships===
While at [[University of Oregon|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.

====Cross country====
{| {{AchievementTable|Result=yes}}
!colspan=6| Representing [[Oregon Ducks track and field|Oregon]]
|-
|1969
|[[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|NCAA Cross Country Championships]]
| [[The Bronx|The Bronx, New York]]
|bgcolor=cc9900|3rd
|29:12.0
|<ref>[http://trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/NCAA_XC_PDFs/1969-men.pdf 1969 Men's NCAA Cross Country Championships results]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Track and Field News]]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1970
|[[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|NCAA Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Williamsburg, Virginia]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|28.00.2
|<ref>[http://trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/NCAA_XC_PDFs/1970-men.pdf 1970 Men's NCAA Cross Country Championships results]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Track and Field News]]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1971
|[[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|NCAA Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Knoxville, Tennessee]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|29:14.0
|<ref>[http://trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/NCAA_XC_PDFs/1971-men.pdf 1971 Men's NCAA Cross Country Championships results]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Track and Field News]]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1973
|[[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|NCAA Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Spokane, Washington]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|28:14.8
|<ref>[http://trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/NCAA_XC_PDFs/1973-men.pdf 1973 Men's NCAA Cross Country results]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Track and Field News]]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|}
* Prefontaine [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirted]] the Fall of 1972 after the Olympics which made him eligible to run cross country in the fall of 1973.

====Track and field====
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes}}
!colspan=7| Representing [[Oregon Ducks track and field|Oregon]]
|-
|1970
|[[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Drake Stadium (Drake University)|Drake Stadium]]<br />{{small|([[Des Moines, Iowa]])}}
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|3 mile
|13:22.0
|{{ref label|a|a|a}}<ref>[http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700030&division=700030700030&event=700600 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506182407/http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700030&division=700030700030&event=700600 |date=May 6, 2014 }}. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1971
|[[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Husky Stadium]]<br />{{small|([[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]])}}
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|3 mile
|13:20.1
|<ref>[http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700031&division=700031700031&event=700631 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506200210/http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700031&division=700031700031&event=700631 |date=May 6, 2014 }}. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1972
||[[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Hayward Field]]<br />{{small|([[Eugene, Oregon]])}}
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|5000 m
|13:31.4
|{{ref label|b|b|b}}{{ref label|c|c|c}}<ref>[http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700032&division=700032700032&event=700662 1972 Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506200213/http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700032&division=700032700032&event=700662 |date=May 6, 2014 }}. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1973
|[[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
|[[Bernie Moore Track Stadium]]<br />{{small|([[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]])}}
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|3 mile
|13:05.3
|{{ref label|d|d|d}}<ref name="ncaachampionships1973">[http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700033&division=700033700033&event=700693 1973 Men's NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506020022/http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=700033&division=700033700033&event=700693 |date=May 6, 2014 }}. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|}
:{{note label|a|a|a}}NCAA meet record
:{{note label|b|b|b}} A 5000 m race was held this year rather than a 3 mile race
:{{note label|c|c|c}} NCAA meet record for 5000 m; broke Gerry Lindgren's 1968 record of 13:57.2
:{{note label|d|d|d}} Broke his own NCAA meet record and set a stadium record<ref name="ncaachampionships1973"/>

===Oregon State high school championships===
During his junior and senior years at Marshfield High School, Prefontaine went undefeated in both cross country and track.

====Cross country====
{|{{AchievementTable|Result=yes}}
!colspan=6| Representing [[Marshfield High School (Coos Bay, Oregon)|Marshfield High School]]
|-
|1965
|Oregon State Cross Country Championships
|
|53rd
|NT
|<ref name="highschoolxc">[http://www.osaa.org/docs/bxc/records/1965.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1965 State Cross Country results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1966
|Oregon State Cross Country Championships
|
|6th
|12:36
|<ref name="highschoolxc1966">[http://www.osaa.org/docs/bxc/records/1966.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1966 State Cross Country results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1967
|Oregon State Cross Country Championships
|
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|12:13.8
|<ref name="highschoolxc1967">[http://www.osaa.org/docs/bxc/records/1967.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1967 State Cross Country results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|1968
|Oregon State Cross Country Championships
|
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|11:30.2
|<ref name="highschoolxc1968">[http://www.osaa.org/docs/bxc/records/1968.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1968 State Cross Country results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|}

====Track and field====
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes}}
!colspan=7| Representing [[Marshfield High School (Coos Bay, Oregon)|Marshfield High School]]
|-
|1968
|Oregon State Track and Field Championships
|[[Corvallis, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|2 mile
|9:02.7
|<ref>[http://www.osaa.org/docs/btf/records/1968b.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1968 State Track and Field results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|1969
|rowspan=2|Oregon State Track and Field Championships
|rowspan=2|[[Corvallis, Oregon]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Mile
|4:08.4
|<ref name="highschooltrack">[http://www.osaa.org/docs/btf/records/1969.pdf Oregon School Activities Association 1969 State Track and Field results]. Retrieved on July 8, 2014</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|2 mile
|9:03.0
|<ref name="highschooltrack"/>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|www.prefontainerun.com}}
* [http://preclassic.com Prefontaine Classic]
* [http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30594&SPID=243&SPSID=4584/ University of Oregon Athletics: Steve Prefontaine, bio & pix]
* {{IMDb title|id=0119937|title=Prefontaine}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0119934|title=Without Limits}}
* {{Find a Grave|5917}}
* [https://www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/steve-prefontaine-story/ The Steve Prefontaine Story]

{{Oregon Modern History}}
{{2000 National Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 5000m Men}}
{{Footer US NC 5000m Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer Collegiate Track Field Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prefontaine, Steve}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:American men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:American men long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1971 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Eugene, Oregon]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Oregon]]
[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths in Oregon]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Coos Bay, Oregon]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks men's cross country runners]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1971 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Deaths of competitors in the sport of athletics]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]