Steve Prefontaine
1951 – 1975

Steve Prefontaine

American long-distance runner (1951–1975)

athletics competitorlong-distance runner
Born
1951-01-25, Coos Bay
Died
1975-05-30
Birthplace state
Oregon

Biography

Steve Prefontaine was born in Coos Bay, Oregon on January 25, 1951. A long-distance runner, he set American records at distances from 2,000 to 10,000 meters between 1973 and 1975. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and was training with the Oregon Track Club for the 1976 Olympics when he died on May 30, 1975.

Occupation

Steve Prefontaine is recorded as a athletics competitor and a long-distance runner, born in Oregon (1951–1975).

Connections to Oregon

Steve Prefontaine was born in Coos Bay, Oregon in 1951. Explore other notable figures from Oregon, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Oregon›Oregonhistory ›Historic sites in Oregon›
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Steve Prefontaine came from Coos Bay. A full Aubrey report on Coos Bay pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Oregon

Other historical figures born in Oregon, ranked by historical prominence.

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Douglas Engelbart
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River Phoenix
River Phoenix
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Raymond Carver
penman, poet, screenwriter, novelist, prose writer, teacher, short story writer (1938-1988)
John Reed
John Reed
American journalist, poet, and communist activist
Dale T. Mortensen
Dale T. Mortensen
American economist (1939-2014)
Dick Fosbury
Dick Fosbury
American athletics competitor, high jumper

Frequently asked about Steve Prefontaine

Who was Steve Prefontaine?
Steve Prefontaine was American long-distance runner (1951–1975), born in Oregon (1951 – 1975).
When and where was Steve Prefontaine born?
Steve Prefontaine was born on 1951-01-25 in Coos Bay.
When did Steve Prefontaine die?
Steve died on 1975-05-30.
What was Steve Prefontaine known for?
Steve Prefontaine is recorded as a athletics competitor and a long-distance runner.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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