by Larry Eder
Steve Prefontaine led the Oregon Ducks to the NCAA Cross-Country Championships in 1973 and, before his death, owned the American records for the 2000 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters, as well as 2 miles, 3 miles, and 6 miles.
Steve Prefontaine won three NCAA titles (1970, 1971 and 1973) at three miles and one NCAA title at 5,000 meters (1972).
Steve Prefontaine won 3 NCAA Cross Country titles and led his team to the NCAA Cross Country Championships title in 1973. In fact, the University did not want to send the Ducks to the NCAA in 1973. Incensed, Steve Prefontaine threatened not to attend, and the University capitulated.
His coach, Bill Dellinger, had won two NCAA cross country titles, in 1954 and 1956 as an individual for the Oregon Ducks.
One of the things that Bill Dellinger noted to Kenny Moore and Tom Jordan, the two men who chronicled the late Steve Prefontiane, was Steve’s consistency. Bill Dellinger could not recall a workout that Steve Prefontaine missed while competing in college! That is consistency.
Steve Prefontaine knew that he had to bulld his strength and speed over seasons of training.
In 1973, Steve Prefontaine won his final cross-country title at the NCAA. He came from way back to defeat Nick Rose, who had built up a huge lead. After the race, Steve Prefontaine told reporters that it was his most satisfying cross-country win.
In his career, Steve Prefontaine won 120 of his 153 races, a .784 average. He lost three races in his NCAA career, all at the mile distance.
His mile against 1972 Olympic gold medalist at 800 meters, Dave Wottle, was a classic. Dave Wottle told this writer in October 2025 that Steve was very tough over the mile, running a 3:54.6, then only 3.5 seconds off the world record!
“Pre,” as his fans called him, had an unquenchable desire to challenge himself. Here is one of our favorite quotes from Steve Prefontaine:
“What kind of crazy nut would spend two or three hours a day just running?”
A very good question.
