Pat Porter dead in plane crash

I loved him in teh film where he played Viren.

Poor guy. RIP

yes I remember this when he played the part of "Lasse Viren" in the "Pre" movie. I am very sad to read this. He was one of my heros from the 1980's. He was one of the best without a question. I still have (domewhere in my baseman) one of the articles written about him by "Runners Magazine" called "Rare athmosphere" where he was was pictured running in the sand dunes of New Mexico I think.

In 1984 just before the Olympics, the world's cross country championship took place right here in New Jersey at the Meadowlands (I think this was the first time in years that the Kenyans entered as well with a full time and Kep Keino was their coach) and Porter lead practically all the way until the final 2 kilometers and Carlos Lopez from Portugal won (then went on to win the Olympics Marathon at LA-he was 37 years old) Porter came in 4th but he was just great. Jones came in third, I dont remember who came in second. If you go on youtube you can see the whole race. Pat although did go to the Olympics at 10K, he was not that great track runner. Nevertheless, you always will be remembered. This is a very sad day for American distance running.

this is awful news, also one of my running idols growing up. R.I.P. Pat....

He was a tough, tough runner. I looked up to him, even though he was way before my time.

sad to . hear this wrote:

Pat Porter was one of the reasons I went to Adams State (many years later).

He was an amazing athlete. I wish I would have met him.

I wonder if someone has the poster of him running in The Great Sand Dunesear Alamosa? He had a great stride.

His stride was amazing...Loved the the Panther on his hip..Watched him run at VC Park 2x, what a joy....

we chatted from time to time, we raced back in the day, we'll miss the Panther - time to pray for Trish and the whole Porter family.

Wow... very sad. RIP to his family

I saw him run NCAA's cross country championships (I think) one time at Penn State and he just killed the field and looked so fresh afterwards talking to his coach.

He inspired so many of lesser runners

RIP Pat the Panther. MN born, CO made. My thoughts go out to his wife, children, and other family. I remembered reading the SI articles on him as well as watching the Porter and Virgin clip on You Tube.

Coach Vigil must be crushed. One of my fondest conversations was with Coach Vigil at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and he spoke of him as if he was his son. RIP .....

It's a very sad day to hear about Pat passing away. He was a great runner and a very nice person. I met him and his wife in alamosa years ago and had the opportunity to talk and hang out with him off the track. My heart goes out to his wife and family and his friends. Rest in peace my friend.

I ran the World Cross Champs as a Junior in 1986. Porter got 6th but I always think that was his greatest race. The Kenya and Ethiopian dominance really started at that race. And the United Stated men were third. They had a great team. Ed Eyestone, Bruce Bickford coming off his World Number One ranking in the 10,000 by TnF news. Craig Virgin. John Easker who would finish 10th. Alan Scharsu, Jeff Drenth, Keith Brantly, and Randy Reina. Porter was the only one of the whole group who spent a lot of time talking and encouraging the juniors. He was pretty cocky but at the same time I recall a few years later after US nationals and he shared his frustration with me about no matter what not being able to close a track 10,000 under 59.0 seconds. Pat Porter was a memorable guy. Some people thought he was too full of himself. I think that was what made him memorable. He lived to compete.

My first running hero. Absolutely tough-as-nails XC warrior. Sad day. RIP.

RIP Pat...you were as tough as they come. I hope you are running on the streets of Gold now.

he was one of my running heroes back in the 80s. what a great cross country runner, just dominant, with titles every year.

If anyone deserves a Letsrun black page it is Porter. A leagand has passed.

R.I.P

The Animal Within wrote:

If anyone deserves a Letsrun black page it is Porter. A leagand has passed.

Agreed. If Pat doesn't deserve a black page I don't know who does.

Loved Pat ! He was my Cross country hero. I met him through Nike guys a couple of times. He was so humble so down to earth. You wound never have known he was a runner if he didn't tell you. You would have never know he was a champion runner. R.I.P. brother you will be missed. I hope that Joe Vigil is ok, he loved Pat like a son.

There was a story I heard years ago where Porter ran a 4 minute mile during a workout session at the altitude of Alamosa, and was quoted as saying right after he finished "I saw God!"