Steve Prefontaine

Quick Facts

Full Name	Steve Prefontaine
Occupation	Runner
Date Of Birth	Jan 25, 1951(1951-01-25)
Age	73
Date Of Death	1975-05-30
Birthplace	Coos Bay
Country	United States
Birth City	Oregon
Horoscope	Capricorn

Steve Prefontaine Biography

Steve Prefontaine is one of the most popular and richest Runner who was born on January 25, 1951 in Coos Bay, Oregon, United States. American long-distance runner who set seven world records before he died prematurely in a car crash.

He as well as the other athlete He and fellow runner Alberto Salazar were both inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. were both inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) was an American long-distance runner who competed in the 1972 Olympics. While running for the Oregon Track Club, Prefontaine set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters, as he prepared for the 1976 Olympics. Prefontaine’s career, alongside those of Jim Ryun, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers, generated considerable media coverage, which helped inspire the 1970s “running boom.” Prefontaine’s celebrity and charisma resulted in two 1990s feature films about his life. He died at age 24 in an automobile accident near his residence in Eugene, Oregon. One of the premier track meets in the world, the Prefontaine Classic, is held annually in Eugene in his honor.

Prefontaine became a very aggressive front runner, insisting on going out hard and not relinquishing leads, reminiscent of the 1956 Olympic gold medalist Vladimir Kuts, another famous front runner at 5,000 meters. Prefontaine was quoted as saying, “No one will ever win a 5,000 meter by running an easy 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 holding back 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.

He was raised by Linda, his younger sibling Linda living in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Steve Prefontaine Net Worth

Steve Prefontaine is one of the richest Runner from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Steve Prefontaine 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He played basketball and football before getting into cross country in the 8th grade.

He was killed in a car crash caused by drunken driving on his university. University of Oregon.

Prefontaine was born on January 25, 1951, in Coos Bay, Oregon. His father, Raymond Prefontaine, was a welder after his time serving in the U.S. Army in World War II. Steve’s mother, Elfriede, worked as a seamstress. The two returned to Coos Bay after Ray met Elfriede in Germany while serving with the U.S. occupation forces. The middle child and only son, he had two sisters, Neta and Linda, and they all grew up in a house built by their father.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Steve Prefontaine height 5 ft 9 in Steve weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Steve Prefontaine Dating?

According to our records, Steve Prefontaine is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Steve Prefontaine’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Steve Prefontaine. You may help us to build the dating records for Steve Prefontaine!

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 gained national attention and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 19 in June 1970. He was on the cover of Track and Field News’s November 1969 issue.

Facts & Trivia

Steve Ranked on the list of most popular Runner. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Steve Prefontaine celebrates birthday on January 25 of every year.

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.

Why is Prefontaine so famous?

During his brief 24-year life-span, Steve Prefontaine grew from hometown hero, to record-setting college phenomenon, to internationally acclaimed track star. In that time, he claimed seven NCAA titles, a fourth-place Olympic finish in 1972 (5K), and American records from 2,000 meters through 10,000 meters.

What was Steve Prefontaine fastest mile?

Personal information
Personal best(s)| Outdoor 1500 m: 3:38.1 (Helsinki 1973) Mile: 3:54.6 (Eugene 1973) 3000 m: 7:42.6 (Milan 1974) 2-mile: 8:18.29 (Stockholm 1974) 5000 m: 13:21.87 (Helsinki 1974) 10,000 m: 27:43.6 (Eugene 1974) Indoor Mile: 3:58.6 i (College Park 1975) 2-mile: 8:20.4 i (San Diego 1974)

Does Steve Prefontaine still hold any records?

Prefontaine held every American record from the 2,000 to the 10,000 meters at the time of his death in 1975 at the age of 24. Since then, it’s been a long process for American distance runners in breaking those records.

How old was Olympic runner Steve Prefontaine when he died in a car crash?

Steve Prefontaine was only 24 and the holder of seven American records, from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters, when he died in a car crash on May 30,

1975. He was certainly the most popular track and field athlete in the nation at the time, if not the world.

Who broke the 4 minute mile?

In Oxford, England, 25-year-old medical student Roger Bannister cracks track and field’s most notorious barrier: the four-minute mile.