Steve Prefontaine runs 3,000m American Record on 8/3/1972

Steve Prefontaine runs 7:44.2 in Oslo, Norway on August 3, 1972, running the American Record at that time.
The night before, Pre had run the equivalent of a 3:57 mile in the 1,500‐meter run.
“I think if I hadn't run last night, I would have had a shot at the world record,” Pre said of Kipchoge Keino's 7:39.6, the world record at that time. “I feel really strong and the crowd felt like home.”

[@netaprefontaine4795]

As the oldest sister of my bro Steve Prefontaine, I can tell you he was the real deal. I knew him better than anyone in my family. He would call me and discuss his feelings about things that he wasn’t sure about. I was always close to him. He was always the same person he was as growing up. You would find him fun to be with, always telling jokes,laughing. Always seeing his fans. He even stayed with many of the on weekends when he had time.his love of his people and of Steve really was there. He was loyal to his people. Not leaving this area which he had many reasons to do. But so proud of his coach at the U of O. Bill Bowerman. A committed young man. Always proud of the small, sincere, loving, disciplined, loyal. He faced the tides of wrong, and fought the battle to make Track better for all. He had his own track met just before he died. The Finns came here to Eugene and Steve took them to rural towns to see the beauty of Oregon. The love for his people was and is still here. Miss you bro!

[@mychaelpierce8049]

I'm a huge Pre fan and at 60 his legend continues to inspire me to run. I was fortunate to run this year in the 10K Pre memorial run in Coos Bay. It was a great experience to say the least. Coos Bay did a great job putting on this great event. Pre's legacy & legend is still alive & well! Great to hear form you. Thanks for sharing Neta.

[@netaprefontaine4795]

@@mychaelpierce8049 who are you?

[@mychaelpierce8049]

@@netaprefontaine4795 Just a Big Steve Prefountaine fan

[@princethegod0346]

@@netaprefontaine4795he literally said he a fan 💀

[@brianwhoreadsobjectiveinfo1122]

Thank you for such a wonderful explanation of what your brother was about, Neta. You help to keep his memory alive. He def inspired me as a sub 3 hour marathoner because of his commitment and focus. I had the book Pre for a long time before giving it to one of my athletes.

[@garyholland-yh7oe]

Pre and I were freshmen together at Oregon and my girlfriend and his were friends. Got to see him often at school. Was standing with Mac Wilkins one day and Pre went by and Mac said “hi World.” Asked him why he called Pre “World” and Mac said “ because he’s world famous!” And he was.

[@SunnnyDay]

Back in the day, as a youngster, I thought he was the greatest runner. 5 decades later, that hasn't changed.

[@whatisdoneinthedarkwillbeb9204]

He definitely had the talent and probably more heart than any athlete to this day, its a shame we will never find out.

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

@@whatisdoneinthedarkwillbeb9204 Due to him drinking and driving.

[@DavidGarcia-h5l]

@@SunnnyDay you are entitled to even think he is god... not only that I believe he ranks number 7 ALL time high school list but still a great charismatic USA runner who revolutionized distance running but NOT the world stage but once again you can pay tribute to your core or beliefs.. just don't make a wager in Vegas to win a gold Medal or a medal for that matter in this day in age my good friend.

[@DavidGarcia-h5l]

@@inthedarkwoods2022 indeed he had alot on his plate welcome to life as we ALL do one way or another handling set backs can be testy..it's best to learn how to handle the truth you can find more peace and the same time shed light to those around you in order to release the state of confusion which we have been blindly guided towards..

[@davidramirez4810]

It’s still painful to know that he passed in 1975. My hero as a teenager.

[@KDLemon]

Same here, even now.

[@martinhanley9524]

A great loss - but his legacy lives on 🙏🙏🙏

[@jared1872]

Same! I ran cross country from 7-12 grades and many races outside of school. We used to watch the movie “prefontaine” on the bus to big CC matches. It would get us so pumped up and I still can’t watch or think much of his story without tearing up

[@jeffrey3498]

I'm always impressed how well Steve handled himself during these after race interviews. He always offers very intelligent well thought out answers.

[@russellweber4334]

Pre ran with the balls of king kong.

[@DavidGarcia-h5l]

@@russellweber4334 indeed he put his balls on the line as he did in Munich.. fiercely

[@buckfiden2594]

Grateful to see this video. Pre was a real competitor. I like to imagine him running with the World's best in the present day, along with the sponsorship, gear, PT, altitude training, recovery equipment, Alter G machines, massages, modern track surfaces and other training methods. Prep's weekly routine was usually 85 miles or so, most of which were run at 6 minute pace with a Sunday long run of 15 miles @ 6:30 pace, a tempo run @ 5 minute pace and a 3 or 4mile repeat workout @ 4:20 pace. Pre lived in basic poverty in a trailer and had to bartend at night to make ends meet. If he had what two recent college grads like Grant Fisher and Joe Klecker have now, with their respective training groups, the sky would be the limit. Grant & Joe, who are about a year or two older than Pre here, just recently ran 7:37 and 7:39 respectively for 3K. Not to diminish them or their accomplishments but can you imagine what Pre would have been capable of with all that they have at their disposal? Pre was 5 seconds off the world record. Fischer's 7:37 is 17 seconds off the world record. Fisher even more recently ran 13:02 for 5K, Klecker 13:06 same race, Pre's 5K PR was 13:22 I believe. If Pre were around today I'm guessing he would be a 7:27 3K and 12:50 5K man.

[@campbellmedia7303]

Man this is a nice quality video. I’m so happy to see another pre race

[@JoeMac1983]

I check KZbin every couple months to see if anyone has uploaded a new Pre race. Glad I found this!

[@Arisafari77]

Olympics made me do it

[@solaireof_astora]

I’m glad Steve made a KZbin channel before he died

[@willydiaz1417]

lol

[@TooBeaucoup]

🤣🤣🤣

[@drgravy4742]

I was very fortunate to be able to see Pre when he was in high school. He would run by our house every once in a while and,made me think I could run fast. Lol.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

Pre won the three mile in the first track meet i ever attended with my brother in 1971. I became a runner the next year and was hooked. I still run today and did my speed workout in the northwest summer twilight last night. RIP to our great young man died too young.

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Thank you. He was the best brother too. Hugs

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

Steve was a big hero of mine and I got a chance to stand next to him during a Pac-8 Cross Country Championship meet at UCLA (where I was a student) in about 1971 or so. I ran up the tail between the dorms to watch him go by and cheer him on (gently patting his shoulder). I ran back down to the finish line as he wound down along Sunset Boulevard, finishing far ahead of everyone in typical Pre fashion. Always would go to Drake Stadium during track season whenever Oregon came to town. I'm currently doing a series of "Heroes" oil paintings, and Steve is one of them. RIP, buddy.

[@starmersbarber]

I'm Scottish and was 8 years old when Pre died. It's only really taken until now to properly realise just how much of a loss to the world of athletics his early passing was. My first Olympics memory was 1976...my heroes from that were Viren, Juantorena and Comaneci...and I'm sure Pre would have joined that list if he had made it to Montreal.

[@Ruda-n4h]

It's likely that he would have finished fourth again or third at best. I think he was overrated at the highest level, a big fish in a small pond in the United Sates.

[@Ray.J]

Thanks to those who find these wonderful films and share them with us fans. I was a Prefontaine fan from the moment I saw his first interview. When it comes to having "that something" he had it in spades.

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Yes, and he didn’t really know it. He was very shy but when he talked about running …he had confidence in his knowledge!

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Steve gave everything he had to you watching him. He wanted you to see the best runner who came from Coos Bay Oregon. Love you my brother.

[@richardanderson7387]

Nice to hear from Steve's sister!!! I grew up in Oklahoma. Steve was like a God from Mt. Olympus to us and Oregon was this mythical place where distance runners were revered like football players were in Oklahoma. I still get goose bumps on the rare times I get to visit Oregon and get to thinking about Steve and the "Men of Oregon" from those days. They are still larger than life to this Okie.

[@Grungebaby82]

thank you for posting this. Just before the Olympics & he looked untouchable. PRE LIVES

[@facepuller]

There is no doubt Steve was the greatest runner of his generation and might I even add he is the GOAT! To those who say he is not or was not, I would ask them if Finland was making Viren do bartending? If Ian Stewart was getting a daily wage of less than $3 per day? Or, Galen Rupp today had such scarcity of infrastructure and technology, would he be able to JUST BEAT Pre’s record after nearly 4 decades! Yes, Pre was cocky and brash but was he not fighting the AAU ? Did he not choose his country over a heavy amount of money? He inspired generations! Track and field was the golden age when Pre was around!

[@Tiburon876]

Ok !.. that said.. what he do at the Olympics???. Against the Europeans did he even win a medal.. indeed he was Western cocky..and yes he was America best at the time. Factomundo I and that not the golden era..in fact it was the beginning of the health craze and running and bowerman took advantage to create a running foot shoe.. Nike..what did prefontaine get out of the deal a trailer to live in..!!!whoopy

[@De-hj6of]

Sounds like sour grapes from an old fart

[@victoriapendleton4099]

His legend has outgrown his talent

[@upperleftcoastchelseafan7718]

I lived for a time on Prefontaine Way in Coos Bay Oregon and worked at the high school (Marshfield) Pre went to. That's my claim to fame. Used to watch him race at U-of-O as much as we could as kids. Then I ended up moving to his hometown in 1980, talk about a depressed economy, unemployment was in the 25% range because all the lumber mills had closed down. Now Coos Bay is booming again because of tourism and the big ass casino they built in a remodeled lumber mill. I remember the commentators on the radio before the start of the 3,000 at Munich in 72' saying that Pre would win the Olympic gold (but not here it will be in Montreal in 76'). And you just know he would have.

[@facepuller]

Oh yes! We were robbed man! God robbed us of the GOAT ! He was just 24! In Montreal he’d have beat Viren’s ass! Who knows if there was glory lined up at Moscow and even Los Angeles!

[@gary1961]

@@facepuller Montreal would have proved to be his final chance at Olympic glory. Remember, the USA boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980. By 1984 in Los Angeles, Pre would have been 33 years old. Unless he'd have stepped up to the Marathon he would have been way too old to compete with runners 10 years younger. Alas, we will never know.

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

The guy that said that was Erich Segal I think. The writer of the novel "Love Story" that was made into the movie with Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. Also, I think that was the 5,000

[@randyevermore9323]

@@tombryant52jumpscoach You're right on both counts. Segal couldn't foresee how dominant the E. Africans would become, and if the Africans hadn't boycotted the '76 Games, I don't think either Pre or Viren would have won the 5,000. Athletes like Rono and Yifter were just too good at that point.

[@jacklee9044]

Most runners run like antelope. Steve ran like a stallion.

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Thank you for your loving comments. Steve was a real person. Filled with vim and vigor! Always giving as he went. Caring about everyone. I miss our talks, our silly times and my brother. God bless all of you and remember “Pre”.

[@DanielNowak-xj5oc]

Awesome! Be like Pre Pre lives ❤

[@gary1961]

This race was 50 years ago. Half a century. Time really does fly.

[@mikekorn6968]

A bit of Pre's spirit is alive & well in each of us who remember him especially when we run. RIP Steve

[@stephenescamilla2129]

My dad and I enjoyed and loved watching Steve run in person. Unfortunately, that was only a few times . Steve would have shattered many records .

[@Asimyusree]

Thanks for the video. Hope to watch the 1500 m soon. 👌🏻

[@deveryshepardson3640]

People forget just how good he was, Munich had a lot going against him allowing the kickers extra days of rest. He was also instrumental in the design of Nike, shoes that were originally made by Bill Bowerman. When Pre first wore them they were made in pieces but he would take them out for a run and literally destroy them in a short distance. He was the one who mentioned changing the toe to a one piece and Bowerman’s former track students, Phil Knight got backing from the best investor of all time in Paul Allen ( a guy who seemed to be in right place right time being money man for both Nike and Microsoft.)

[@randyevermore9323]

"Munich had a lot going against him allowing the kickers extra days of rest. " As much as I was a fan of Pre in my youth, I never understood this reasoning. He complained that the break in competition that was taken due to the terrorist attacks had given the athletes who had competed in the 10,000 extra rest before the 5,000. But they had still run a hard 10,000, especially Viren, who set a WR in that race despite falling well into it. Pre, on the other hand, had run no other races and was therefore coming into the 5,000 with completely fresh legs. So he still had an advantage over the athletes who had run the 10,000m, even if they did get more rest than the would have under the original schedule.

[@cosmosrunner]

AMAZING!! Pre really was the best!

[@paulfletcher7211]

he was the best America had to offer but way short of the best. The world record that year was 6 seconds faster than Pre.

[@libradragon]

@@paulfletcher7211 At age 21. He barely lived enough to please The World in terms of time, but he lived an eternity at a young age. Give the man some credit.

[@whatisdoneinthedarkwillbeb9204]

@@paulfletcher7211 yet most people who try and talk shit about the man couldnt hold his jock. Those who actually competed against prefontaine respected him by the end of the race win or lose.

[@facepuller]

@paul fletcher : way short? He was just 21 then! He was above records when he left! He made the AAU give up their egos! And by the way, no one remembers the WR for ‘72! His aura shadowed every record there was!

[@richardmilliken5651]

@@paulfletcher7211 Pre would've beaten Viren in the 10K at Montreal. Rono & Yifter would've destroyed Lasse in the 5K in Montreal if Africa countries didn't boycott the 76 Olympic games!! All the reindeer milk in the world wouldn't have made the difference for Lasse in 76 at Montreal against the African countries!!

[@MrTonytate5501]

Thanks for posting! Absolutely enjoyed this video!

[@travisjohnson7771]

"Pre's People" documentary shows unseen race footage, photos and stories from high school days. Very insightful!

[@Infinitebrandon]

Don't care for these sportscasters but love to see pre. Today I'm running

[@brycelambley1122]

Quite a stellar field behind him too.

[@jared1872]

I ran cross country from 7-12 grades and many races outside of school. We used to watch the movie “prefontaine” on the bus to big CC matches. It would get us so pumped up and I still can’t watch or think much of his story without tearing up

[@WheresWaldo05]

"Without limits", is better. Not a Jared Lehto fan.

[@patricksevers8012]

Everytime I watch the 76 Olympic 5000, that last drive with viren,dixon, quax and the German I always imagine him with them. What a race it was but what a race it could of been!

[@linjicakonikon7666]

What are you talking about? Steve blew it in the '72 Olympics and wouldn't have done much in '76

[@TyroneFlanagan]

Pre was a great competitor and only 21 when he lost in Munich. It's so sad that he didn't live long enough to fully mature as a runner. He was the Caitlan Clark of distance running in the early senenties

[@hopemullins7430]

Wow! Such an amazing athlete! I am 100% star struck♥

[@gary1961]

Adverts for athletes foot spray and beer in the middle of the live broadcast. That's 1970s TV for you! A great race from Prefontaine. Dick Quax came third. He would have been one of Prefontaine's main medal rivals in 1976 Montreal. I'm confident Pre would have beaten him.

[@johnstirling9120]

I think with Pre in the Montreal final that in all probability Dixon would have won. Prefontains tactics didn't really suit big championship style of running, Quax for silver and a toss up between Pre and Viren for bronze. Dick Quaxs son Theo is a name to mark down for the future, currently on scholarship at North Arizona Uni with a 3.38 1500 to his name and sub 4 minute mile. The third Kiwi in the race, Dick Tayler was a definite medal prospect at Montreal, (ran 27.41 in 1974) but was struck down with arthritis in 1975.

[@ossitikkanen1335]

@@johnstirling9120 Just speculation...all we know that Viren won all the greats like Ouax and Dixon in Montreal. He was a master of tactics :-). Pre was not good at races with many races too near...Just like happened in Munich...

[@johnstirling9120]

@@ossitikkanen1335 Agreed, Viren outfoxed them all. I would be interested to go back to the first 6 from the 76 final and ask what they would do differently if they had a rerun and were all there with 400 meters to go, I think Dixon would have won in a rerun. Cheers. John.

[@richardmilliken5651]

@@ossitikkanen1335 Pre would've beaten Viren in the 10K, at Montreal easily. Viren wasn't as strong as Pre and refused to challenge Pre in the 5K at Eugene in 1975!! Lasse needed the reindeer milk in order to peak at the Olympics. Henry Rono would've destroyed Viren in 1976 if Kenya didn't boycott those Olympics!!

[@Ruda-n4h]

@@johnstirling9120 Viren would still have won with Prefontaine either fourth again or third at best. He was overrated at the highest level with not a big enough kick.

[@bryantcullen9916]

Fate is cruel….he deserved better than what he got.

[@devinbrines]

Love you Pre.

[@46foryounger]

So sad so young 💔

[@carlnash7200]

Nice memories

[@markmanor7936]

Watching pre run 😜 is so satisfying ☺️😅

[@summerlakephotog8239]

Got to see two all time greats here - Pre and Yogi.

[@sophocles1198]

Great announcing

[@yourbestfriend194]

PRE simply GREAT!!!!!!!!

[@Roger-wt7ee]

I was at the Jim Ryun Running Camp about a week after Steve Lost his life very sad news

[@CarrinaCarrillo]

To think how great this man would have been if he had more time.

[@gregorycurtis5742]

He was "The Man" 💪

[@naterlandsw2963]

Gosh dang! What a handsome devil!

[@denisesalles7248]

Secretariat of the 3,000m run!

[@johnraymond-pz9bo]

A beast!

[@usa26point2mileman]

My best 3K was 9:35-so 2 minutes slower, or 1 minute per mile. I would have been lapped nearly twice.

[@bigtree902]

Yea and you know how that felt.. Dude was a machine

[@WheresWaldo05]

Wow for slow

[@anthonystrazzo1896]

I am 74 now and have Pre posters still up in my house. I feel we have the female version in Katelyn Tuohy.

[@AnthonyMcqueen1987]

He was a product of a different time.

[@godswill2260]

Legend

[@randyevermore9323]

"They Europeans want to see him, they've heard a lot about him, most of it he's said himself." Pretty funny burn.

[@ABCDE123459405]

Historisk filmopptak og Steve Prefonteins 3ooom. på 7.44.2 som er en god tid 51 år etterpå.

[@54321-p]

He had an interesting arm swing and his head seemed to be always tilted left. Makes me think that he is already racing around that corner before he gets to it.

[@johnmcgregor1449]

I attended the same school as Garry Bjorklund who competed against Pre. In fact where Garry trained was 5 miles from my house. I’m sorry Pre died that way!!! It didn’t seem that Steve was a born again child of God. That is the REAL tragedy!!! God help us. We love the destination, it is the he map or the directions we hate.

[@WheresWaldo05]

Dude, you are making Duluth folk look awful. Be quiet.

[@hicks727]

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Nice touch.

[@kaib4605]

❤

[@tedallison6112]

Pre is def an icon. But......... Thinknof his 7:44.2 then think about Daniel Komens 7:20.67................ Literally half a lap ahead !!!!!

[@jchapman6572]

Perfect conditions: weather similar to Oregon's; stacked field with Shorter. Everything in Pre's favor.

[@RosettaNovy]

"I'm not even tired"

[@Vegathlete]

Think of what Pre would have accomplished with monetary support he needed to make ends meet and get ahead. The AAU had been squeezing the life out of American athletes. He persevered nevertheless, championing their cause and was ultimately victorious, if but posthumously.

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Always a giver!

[@DexterHaven]

Someone who knew him said he was the real James Dean, the rebel with a cause, and died in his car the same way.

[@Arisafari77]

Running saved my life !!!

[@netaprefontaine4795]

Tell us how it saved your life?

[@netaprefontaine4795]

I sincerely would like to hear your story.

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

... and a nice interview by Jack Whitaker.

[@Benvana4]

My dad would have beaten all in this heat at this race if he was admitted...but he was only 17 -running 1:51 800 meters as a HS Senior in Wichita KS...Larry Jantzen.

[@WheresWaldo05]

Lol. Dookay. 800 and 3000 entirely different things

[@chasam1234]

No Africans or Blacks how times have changed

[@johnraymond-pz9bo]

Number of runner?!?

[@billrich9722]

Why did the lead guy drop out?

[@benanastasoff8980]

Pacer

[@jasonaltham7013]

He was a rabbit.

[@degreeO]

Reminds me of Oregon's best-ever distance runner, Ed Cheserek!

[@WheresWaldo05]

Except Pre was/is.

[@JamesReif]

Ludacrisley Large Field.

[@ezOqekuRitusohI]

Amazing to see how slow these guys are compared to today's athletes. Must be all the doping.

[@PreLives]

@@ezOqekuRitusohI Evolution, my friend.

[@濱田勝弥]

五十年前だぜ！

[@MrMrsteve01]

Not one black wow times have changed

[@johnmcgregor1449]

When it comes to God people hate the truth. Ye must be born again. John 3:7.

[@davebeason805]

Run Against him

[@jasonaltham7013]

Forget beating Pre, instead BE Pre.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

I never cared for Prefontaines running style. He ran a very poor race in '72 at the Olympics, surging to the front way too early and depleted his reserves and failed to medal. Big failure.

[@PreLives]

Hope you enjoyed the vid

[@chasam1234]

Got beat in Munich came up against the real deals ..

[@AllinGold2]

Yes. But he was only 21 in '72. Younger than the others.

[@frankdalla]

People do stupid things....

[@aldopedroso6212]

I never understood the cult of personality surrounding Pre, all his talk about winning the '72 Olympics, that he was going to run a 4 minute last mile, put crap in the kickers legs. Runs the 4 minute mile, doesn't even medal. 3rd placer says I don't know what made him think he was the only person who could do that. He hated Norpoth. 1973, says he is going to beat him in he US Germany dual, loses. 1974 he is going to beat Viren, Has a coughing fit, tears some muscle in his rib cage, doesn't compete. Of the five years he was an elite runner, he wasn't even top American two of them.

[@marcweeks9178]

It's okay, you don't have to understand everything.

[@aldopedroso6212]

@@marcweeks9178 Sounds like you don't understand it either, just into cults I guess. Know anybody who does? Haven't been able to get an answer since he was alive, I must be a dreamer because apparently there isn't one. Conversations end without one. You don't understand doesn't quite cut it.

[@marcweeks9178]

@@aldopedroso6212 Sorry, but cherry-picking a few of his failures does nothing to tarnish his image. Pre had a race-from-the-front style that people responded to, and his performances were getting better and better. So I’m proud to be a card-carrying cult member. Go Pre!

[@aldopedroso6212]

@@marcweeks9178 I only have an issue with failures with a guy bragging he is going to win. Cherry picking is what you have to do to find any pluses to his image in Europe or even Americans 1974 on. His performances were getting better, 13:22.8 in '72 all the way to 13:21.87 in '74. His run from the front style was something competitors responded to, appreciated might be a better word, rabbit probably the best word of all.

[@marcweeks9178]

@@aldopedroso6212 I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.