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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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