Pre
“Both of them are incredible
competitors, but I'm not sure I'd
like to make any type of further
comparison," Deflinger says
“I see a lot of Salazar in
Salazar and a lot of Pre in Pre,
but it’s just not fair to compare
one generation with another.”
Bowerman says. "You’d have to
consider all of Oregon's great
distance men from the past in
cluding our top 5,000 man in
1956, who was Bill Dellinger. To
say one is the greatest just isn't
fair to any of them."
One quality Bowerman says
ran common in both Salazar
and Prefontaine was what he
calls a “Pied Piper effect" on
children.
One of Bowerman's fondest
memories of Prefontaine oc
curred during the Olympic Trials
at Hayward Field in 1972 Some
of Pre’s more dedicated fans at
the meet were wearing T-shirts
with the slogan, "GO PRE" dis
played on the front.
One spectator not quite as
fond of the Oregon star wore a
similar shirt that read. "GET
PRE"
After he outran the entire
5.000-meter field, Pre headed
around for yet another Hayward
Field victory lap.
"Pre used to charge around
on his victory laps," Bowerman
says, "but he would always stop
on the east side of the track to
shake hands with the young
sters."
Just as he began greeting the
east side bleacher crowd, Pre
noticed the fan with the “GET
PRE" shirt sitting just a few rows
up from the track
"Pre exploded up the stairs,
went right up to the guy and
said. ‘Gimme that shirt,’ ”
Bowerman says.
The startled spectator im
mediately obliged, and Prefon
taine made a second victory lap
wearing the shirt he had taken.
Bowerman says the already
electrified crowd exploded with
renewed enthusiasm.
When Prefontaine died, some
reports defined him as being
both popular and controversial.
His most consistent criticism
was aimed at the Amateur Ath
letic Union for what he said was
the exploitation of American
athletes. But to his friends,
Prefontaine was a model of
dedication and sincerity.
"He never forgot the Pre peo
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r
"Ho ntwr forgot the Pro poo
pfo, and wo will normr forgot
him."
pie, and we will never forget
him,” McClure said just after
Pre s death.
“He didn't like a sham,"
Bowerman says “He was totally
intolerant of 'stuffed shirts' and
of pomposity whenever and
however it surfaced.”
During a memorial service at
Hayward Field three days afer
Prefontaines death Bowerman
and two of Pre s closest running
mates. Kenny Moore and Frank
Shorter, delivered short
eulogies to a crowd of about
3,500
As they took turns capsulizing
Prefontaine s significance to his
community and to his friends,
perhaps Moore said it best when
he said, “These remarks are not
mine so much as they are those
of all runners who knew Steve
Prefontaine, and who grew with
him here "
Shorter referred to an inter
view Pre had done shortly
before his death when he was
asked about Shorter's chances
in the upcoming Olympic
10,000-meter race The answer
was vintage Prefontaine
"If he's having a good day
and running the right race,
nobody can beat Shorter at
10,000 meters Nobody ex
cept me.”
Tho annual Prefontaine clas
sic cood track and field moot will
bo hold Saturday. Juno 5 at
Hayward Field
1
SUMMER JOB
OPPORTUNITIES
UO Foundation is hiring students
for summer term in the following
positions:
Six Annual Telefundere
Responsibilities include calling UO alumni and
obtaining dollar pledges over the phone. Excellent
conversational abilities are a must. Knowledge of
University, fund-raising interest, and accuracy in
data recording preferred. Assistants will work 9
hours a week between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Program begins June 21 and ends approximately
August 12.
Applications available in UO Foundation Office, 150
Campbell Hall. Completed applications due no later
than May 27 at 5 p.m. Selected applicants will be
contacted for interviews to be held June 1-4,1982.
For further information call 686-3016.
Take a break with an ODE