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Steve Prefontaine

by Christian from E.T.Richardson middle school

Steve Prefontaine (http://www.slb-coaching.com/UploadedImages/Steve%20Prefontaine.jpg)
Steve Prefontaine (http://www.slb-coaching.com/UploadedImages/Steve%20Prefontaine.jpg)

When I was a little kid all that I wanted to be was the world’s best runner. One day my mom brought home a movie about a person called Steve Prefontaine. After watching the movie, and watching all the things that Steve Prefontaine had accomplished and been through, he was my new hero. I looked up to him in every way possible, and everything I did was to be just like him. A couple of years later I really started to look up to him, after I started to run track. I got every book there was about him and every movie I could find about him. I wanted to run and be just like him.

Steve Prefontaine grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon. He was born on January 25, 1951 and died on May 30, 1975. He ran cross country at the time and found some success. As a freshman, attending Marshfield High School, he was an ok runner. Prefontaine was determined to get better as a runner. He accomplished this goal. He went from being a decent runner to being a tremendously successful runner. He would win every meet he raced in, which includes Oregon State Competitions. Steve Prefontaine also set a national high school record with a time of 8:41.5. Steve Prefontaine broke 19 national records in the end.

After graduating from Marshfield High School in 1969 he attended the University of Oregon. There he was coached by Bill Bowerman, who ended up creating the Nike shoe company. As a freshman, Prefontaine finished third in the NCAA men’s cross country championship. Steve Prefontaine won three straight NCAA cross country championships. After getting third in the NCAA’s men’s cross country championship he would only lose two more times. Both of the times he would lose were going to be in the mile.

After Steve Prefontaine’s career at the University of Oregon he went on to prepare for the 1972 summer Olympics in Montréal. At Montréal he ran in the 5000 meter race (3.107 miles). He placed fourth after running very well. Prefontaine died after driving home from a track meet that was held earlier. He died in a car crash. Steve Prefontaine broke many records while he was running cross country and track. He is said to be one of the best runners of all time. Steve Prefontaine made a difference because his legacy, as the best runner, inspires other runners and other people to do many great things.

Steve Prefontaine is a hero to everyone near and far. He inspired many people to do things that they thought that they couldn’t do. Everywhere he went people would cheer for him and would praise him. Also Steve Prefontaine wanted to make a difference in the world. Prefontaine would make a difference either by running or by helping the community. Steve Prefontaine would help his community a lot. He would volunteer his time at Roosevelt Junior High School. Also, he started a running club at Oregon State Prison. Steve Prefontaine is a great legacy and a tremendous amount of people look up to him. He is a hero to everyone near and far.

Steve Prefontaine was an Amazing person and an amazing runner. Millions of people all over the world, including me, look up to him as an athlete, and as a person. He had an amazing attitude to never quit and always give it your all. He believed if you didn’t give it your all then you were sacrificing your gift. My dream is to follow in his footsteps and be an amazing athlete. If I cannot follow in Steve Prefontaine’s athletic footsteps then I will follow by having the same attitude as him. I look up to him in every way possible and want to be just like him.

Page created on 8/7/2008 10:54:15 AM

Last edited 8/7/2008 10:54:15 AM

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