The Legend | Steve Perfontaine

Steve Prefontaine went to Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, Oregon, and was considered a mediocre cross country runner in his Sophomore season. He then met coach and mentor Bernard Emil Weik II and in his Junior and Senior years, he won every meet, including setting the national record for the two mile race in the Oregon state championships. Prefontaine decided to enroll at the University of Oregon in 1970 to train under legendary coach Bill Bowerman who had founded Blue Ribbon Sports, later known as Nike. Steve won the NCAA men's cross country championship 3 of his 4 years at Oregon, and gained national attention when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 19. He died in a single car crash on May 30, 1975, after he dropped off his good friend Frank Shorter on their way home from a party.