The Olympics are in full force and it always reminds me of where I was born and went to college, Eugene, Oregon, aka TrackTown USA, and a guy named Steve Prefontaine. Before the Olympic torch begins its journey to the location of the games, before the athletes arrive at the village, US Track and Field Olympic hopefuls must first prove themselves at Hayward Field located at my alma-mater, the University of Oregon, and on one day in 1972 a group decided to poke fun at the homegrown track star, Steve Prefontaine, fondly known as Pre, with shirts baring “Stop Pre.”

Born in Coos Bay, along Oregon’s coast, Pre had earned his reputation as a star long distance runner early in life, and was recruited by many schools, but ultimately decided to attend the University of Oregon beginning in 1969, where he would be coached by Bill Bowerman. Bowerman was an innovator if anything. He created a high attitude training format, and unhappy with the metal spikes on running shoes had began to tinker with other options. He gleaned skills from local cobblers, and notoriously ruined his wife’s waffle maker by using it to make rubber soles. Eventually Bowerman began making shoes for his track team at the UO, which he had been coaching since 1948. By 1964 Bowerman was working with Phil Knight, a former UO runner, and the pair founded Nike. Under Bowerman’s leadership, Pre was winning race after race and breaking records. In 1970, at age 19, he even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.

In 1972 Eugene was hosting the Olympic Track and Field trials for the first time, and those hoping to make the team and travel to Munich for the Olympic Games included Oregon’s golden boy, Pre. Eugene was enthusiastic in its support of Pre, “Go Pre” signs could be found in the windows of businesses and on buttons worn by locals. Enter Jack Pfeifer, a young man assisting the announcer for the trials. He, along with many others in town for the trails, were staying at the New Oregon Motel. He and a few others were hanging out at the motel and began talking about how Pre was overshadowing other Oregon grown athletes at the trials. The group, ranging from their 20s to their 50s, included the founders of Track & Field News, a college professor, a lawyer, as well as a recent law school grad, and Jim Dunaway, an ad man from New York.

All were fans of Pre, but couldn’t get over the god-like adoration, so it was time to have some fun and decided t-shirts would be the best form. Someone came up with “Stop Pre” the antithesis of the “Go Pre” message that had been going around. Dunaway upped the message by drawing it within a stop sign. One member offered up his mom’s basement as the factory to make the heretical shirts, as his brother was able to do the silk screening. Another member was sent off to J.C. Penny’s to procure white tees. When the vibrate red stop sign tees were ready the group recruited athlete Gerry Lindergren to don the shirt during warm-ups the day of Pre’s trial. Lindergren hit the track on July 9 with the bold “Stop Pre” shirt, and soon those who had been privy to the process unveiled their own shirts, causing a stir. It didn’t phase Pre one bit, he won the trial, securing his place on the US Olympic team and breaking his own record in the process. Amused by the shirts he asked for one, immediately putting it on and taking a victory lap, solidifying the tee in running history.

Pre and Bowerman, who was the US Track and Field coach, arrived in Munich in September, but the Olympics held nothing but heartbreak. Pre finished fourth in his event, and the games were overshadowed by the massacre of five Israeli athletes and six Israeli coaches in a terrorist attack by Black September. After his let down at the games, Pre continued to run, and win. He also fought against the Olympics’ “amateur” rules, that stipulated athletes could not compete for money if they wanted to be considered for future Olympic games. The rules were eventually changed, but not until after a fateful night in May, 1975.

Unhappy with his Olympic results in Munich, he decided he wanted to go for the next games, which would be in Montreal. He continued running, and had a meet-up on May 29, running against friends and visiting athletes from Finland, followed by a party. Pre had agreed to take a friend home, and the pair climbed into his 1973 gold MGB. After dropping off his friend, Pre took a curve and crashed into a rock wall, flipping his convertible. Not wearing a seatbelt, Pre was flung from the car, with it landing on top of him, killing him shortly after midnight on May 30, 1975. Later it was revealed that Pre had an alcohol level of .16. At just 24 Pre’s bright light was extinguished. At the time of this death he held the American records of every running event from 2,000 to 10,000 meters.

Pre’s legacy has endured, even being labeled the “James Dean of Track.” The coincidences with James Dean are not unnoticed, both died on the 30th of a month in coverable sports cars at age 24 with possibly their best works ahead of them. Pre has been the subject of two films (which showcase the “Stop Pre” moment), multiple documentaries and books, races named in his honor, and murals in his image. The location of his death, dubbed Pre’s Rock, became a place running enthusiasts make a pilgrimage to, often leaving behind shirts, shoes, and racing bibs. Hayward Field, home to the trials, looks very different than it did in Pre’s time, and even my own, undergoing a massive renovation in 2020, allowing more to witness UO events and future Olympic hopefuls. Meanwhile the infamous “Stop Pre” shirt has been fully embraced, being parodied, and even versions being sold by the University of Oregon, and Nike.

Are you watching the Olympics? If so, what are your favorite events? I of course have a soft spot for track and field, but I also enjoy gymnastics, surfing, skateboarding, swimming, and modern pentathlon. I’m also very excited for the Olympics to come to LA in 2028! Here is hoping Patrick and I will be able to secure tickets to some of the events!

Sources
“Bill Bowerman” University of Oregon.
“Bill Bowerman: Nike’s original innovator.” Nike, 2 July 2024.
Heald, Michael. “That Pre Thing.” Runner’s World, 20 June 2018.
Ortiz, Miguel. “Nike’s co-founder was a 10th Mountain WII veteran.” We Are The Mighty, 31 January 2022.
Pfeifer, Jack. “The story behind the Stop Pre shirts, which have endured for decades in Steve Prefontaine’s memory.” The Oregonian, 14 July 2022.
Scott, Gerald. “THE LEGEND LIVES ON: Even though Steve Prefontaine died almost 10 years ago, the memory of his life and controversy surrounding his death are as alive as ever.” Los Angeles Times, 6 May 1985.