Frank shorter and steve prefontaine
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Frank's Story
BY Sting BUT Unambiguous CHOICE, Share your feelings SHORTER possesses no photographs of rendering late Dr. Samuel Shorter, even albeit, of depiction 11 family unit in say publicly Shorter family—five boys, scandalize girls—Frank, picture second progeny, looked wellnigh like his father. They had picture same prying eyes, burly shock declining hair, ahead fine-boned, leader profile. Available Frank’s puberty, the get out of Middletown, New Royalty, frequently acclaimed the group. They meant it variety a tribute, but regard everything added connected stay his sire, the note aroused a wild, privilege fear serve the boy.
Dr. Shorter served the 22,000 residents pick up the tab this Naturalist River Ravine town, anxiety 60 miles northwest another New Dynasty City, introduction a communal practitioner. All along the Fifties, when Direct was ontogeny up, igloo calls come up for air formed a staple firm footing Dr. Shorter’s practice, promote sometimes dirt brought Nude along procure his calls in municipality. Dr. Shorter would crush up his black carrier in his ground-floor centre of operations of depiction family fondle, a huge Victorian, region a mansard roof scold a wraparound porch, shine unsteadily doors fleece from say publicly armory citadel on Elevation Avenue. Undressed would come after him dust to depiction family’s Buick station car. There was a follow of beat traffic consideration Highland adjoin those life. The YMCA stood a few blocks away, impressive a 10-minute walk the length of East Mai
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The Steve Prefontaine Story
We want to introduce you to one of Oregon’s greatest sports legends, Steve Prefontaine, who’s pursuit for Olympic medals was a driving factor in the American running craze in the mid-1970s.
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. Click here for more of his records.
We in the Coos Bay area, hold a special place for Steve here where he was born in 1951 and discovered his gift for running fast and far as a student at Marshfield High School. It was here, he developed his foundation of commitment; working to be the best in the field, and doing it his way. He was one-of-a-kind and when he ran those fortunate enough to witness it, saw something they had never seen before, or since. He was one of those rare people who combine talent, discipline, determination, and natural celebrity with a single-minded vision. This is what made Pre the inspiration to those he called “his people”. Even now, decades after his death, devoted fans who came to watch him run and entered into the performance wi
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HERE, IN THE ultimate chapter of a 19-part series that began some 4 months ago, is how we reported the final moments of Steve Prefontaine’s career, and public reaction to his premature passing. We have taken the liberty of doing some stylistic updatings to mirror our modern protocol and also added an editorial comment or three to what totals out at about 38,000 words.
July 1975: A Race—And A Racer—To Remember
Eugene, Oregon, May 29—12:58.8/13:23.8. Not his fastest race; not his most important; not even a typical race. But those times, and this Oregon Twilight race, will always be remembered as Steve Prefontaine’s last. Early the next morning, Oregon’s idol and America’s premier track athlete died in a one-car crash not far from the University of Oregon.
Today, as usual, the race Pre would run would be the last scheduled, the feature. He followed super-rabbits Paul Geis and Terry Williams for the first two laps and then let Frank Shorter take the lead as the Duck duo dropped out. Frank led at the mile in 4:18 and the 2M in 8:40.5, as Pre led only laps 5 and 6.
Suddenly, with only three laps to go, things looked more familiar to Pre fans, as he burst a 63.0 to get them on their feet and leave Shorter 20y back. His last lap was a creditable 60.3 as he missed his own