Steve Prefontaine Class of '69
One of the best-known American distance runners of all time, Prefontaine graduated from Marshfield in 1969.
He was undefeated in cross country and track his final two years at Marshfield and lost just one race during his college career at the University of Oregon. He set the national high school 2-mile record as a Marshfield senior. He was the first college runner to win four national titles in one event, capturing the 3-mile from 1970 to 1973, and was undefeated against other Americans in races over one mile for five years.
He set 14 American records and, at the time of his death in a 1975 car accident, held every American record from 2 miles through 10,000 meters.
He placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 1972 Olympics and fought for the rights of amateur athletes. Pre's life inspired two full-length feature films. He is honored each September by the Prefontaine Memorial Run in Coos Bay.
He was undefeated in cross country and track his final two years at Marshfield and lost just one race during his college career at the University of Oregon. He set the national high school 2-mile record as a Marshfield senior. He was the first college runner to win four national titles in one event, capturing the 3-mile from 1970 to 1973, and was undefeated against other Americans in races over one mile for five years.
He set 14 American records and, at the time of his death in a 1975 car accident, held every American record from 2 miles through 10,000 meters.
He placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 1972 Olympics and fought for the rights of amateur athletes. Pre's life inspired two full-length feature films. He is honored each September by the Prefontaine Memorial Run in Coos Bay.
Held every American record from the 2,000 to the 10,000 Meters
7 NCAA titles
8 Collegiate Records
4th in 10,000 in 1972 Olympics
Undefeated as junior and senior in cross country and track his junior and senior years in high school
7 NCAA titles
8 Collegiate Records
4th in 10,000 in 1972 Olympics
Undefeated as junior and senior in cross country and track his junior and senior years in high school
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