Pre's Best Event Was the 3000m

jkhdsfla'd:e wrote:

Bowerman believed (rightfully) that Pre never had the world class speed necessary to be the best at 1500/mile. However, as a 3:54 miler, he still had very good speed given his engine.

His PB's are 13:21 for 5000 and 12:51 for 3 mile (probably worth under 13:20). His 3000 and 2 mile PB's jump out a lot more. 8:18 and 7:42 are roughly equivalent to one another. Those marks would suggest sub 13:15 and sub 12:45 capability for 5k and 3mi. Why is it that he never ran quicker in his "specialty" event?

Side note: he ran 7:44 and 13:22 in the summer of 72 while still a junior in college (21 years old). If someone did that today in the NCAA they would still be considered near the best 50 years later. What a talent he was.

He also ran a solo 27:43 and finished 3,1,1,1 in NCAA XC. I believe he was equally good in the 5 and 10.

One of the puzzling things about PRE's career was that he didn't improve from 1972 to 1974 and ran a 13:23 in his last race in 1975. Based on Tom Jordan's book, he never missed a workout due to an injury.

Pre was also kind of in an athletic slump in those years which is why. Makes sense too post Olympics not much money in it and all. But I remember in the book he starts to sort of regain that first and hosts the Finnish meets and then tied his American record

Well when Prefontaine ran 27:43 in 1974 at age 23 the world record was 27:30 and I believe Pre’s 10000m was a largely solo effort. You can guess what his best event was.

Biggzbun wrote: You can guess what his best event was.

Race walking?

I thought it was really funny in the book where one guy, I forget who would say that Pre would get bronze or silver in 76 in the 5000 then finally get gold in the 1980 10k

I wonder what Pre vs Virgin in the 10k would’ve been like

I think he had more potential in the 10k. His 5k times were stagnant the last several years. Sometimes I think his reported beer consumption hurt his development. Bill McChesney's 5k time in the late 70's for UO was 13:14 and 10k time was 27:47. On the college level, McChesney was the better talent IMO.

He finished 2, 1, 1, 1 in XC. He lost to Lindgren his freshman year. I’m actually rereading Tom Jordan’s book now.

Gut reaction says Pre's better but Bill had to go against world record holders in their later 20's while dealing with the chronic Achilles injury and loss of the 1980 Olympics. I just don't think Billy had those moments to make him that widely known and more respected than Pre. But from the stories I've heard like his 3rd place trials run, he's one of the best there was.

rare wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

He also ran a solo 27:43 and finished 3,1,1,1 in NCAA XC. I believe he was equally good in the 5 and 10.

One of the puzzling things about PRE's career was that he didn't improve from 1972 to 1974 and ran a 13:23 in his last race in 1975. Based on Tom Jordan's book, he never missed a workout due to an injury.

He finished 2, 1, 1, 1 in XC. He lost to Lindgren his freshman year. I’m actually rereading Tom Jordan’s book now.

Not an important debate but it was Lindgren, Mike Ryan and then Pre, in the 1969 NCAA XC championship.

The Bowerman era Ducks should be stricken from the record books and have their NCAA titles forfeited. They had an unfair advantage with cheater shoes and cheater kits. I mean they had custom made spikes that were not publicly available. Talk about cheater spikes.

No way considered near the best 50 years later if someone ran 7:44 / 13:22. Neither of those time are top 10 (the 3k is closer the 5k is nowhere near the top.)

blazerxc wrote:

No way considered near the best 50 years later if someone ran 7:44 / 13:22. Neither of those time are top 10 (the 3k is closer the 5k is nowhere near the top.)

I think he means near the best for NCAA times, which they would be.

Worth noting is that Steve, as well as Lindgren, Shorter, Viren, et al, ran in an era with no rabbits, and artificial tracks were just starting to be used.

I think that his 12:51 3 mile was run on a torn up looking dirt track.

Biggzbun wrote:

Well when Prefontaine ran 27:43 in 1974 at age 23 the world record was 27:30 and I believe Pre’s 10000m was a largely solo effort. You can guess what his best event was.

The 27:30 was also a solo effort.

I don't disagree that the 10,000m may have ultimately been his best event has he lived long enough to have a full career. In the 3,000m he'd still be facing the same gang who could beat him at 5,000m

rare wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

He also ran a solo 27:43 and finished 3,1,1,1 in NCAA XC. I believe he was equally good in the 5 and 10.

One of the puzzling things about PRE's career was that he didn't improve from 1972 to 1974 and ran a 13:23 in his last race in 1975. Based on Tom Jordan's book, he never missed a workout due to an injury.

He finished 2, 1, 1, 1 in XC. He lost to Lindgren his freshman year. I’m actually rereading Tom Jordan’s book now.

Pre was 3rd in 1969 behind Lindgren and Mike Ryan (USAF)

The Fokus wrote:

Biggzbun wrote:

Well when Prefontaine ran 27:43 in 1974 at age 23 the world record was 27:30 and I believe Pre’s 10000m was a largely solo effort. You can guess what his best event was.

The 27:30 was also a solo effort.

I don't disagree that the 10,000m may have ultimately been his best event has he lived long enough to have a full career. In the 3,000m he'd still be facing the same gang who could beat him at 5,000m

I suppose it depends on your definition of solo. Bedford had company at least through 5000m in his 27:30. I doubt they were doing much pacesetting for him though.

My late good friend Dick Buerkle beat Pre at least twice at 3 miles and in an indoor 2 miler. One of the most underrated greats of all time; walk on at Villanova to world record holder at age 31.

Right, that's what I thought, but still not near the best. I meant he isn't in the top 10 all time for NCAA times. 7:44/13:22 is run by several men pretty much every year.

Coach J wrote:

My late good friend Dick Buerkle beat Pre at least twice at 3 miles and in an indoor 2 miler. One of the most underrated greats of all time; walk on at Villanova to world record holder at age 31.

Pre was better, though. I remember Buekle beating Pre only once, in an indoor 2-mile. I believe they only ran against each other once at 3-mile/5000,which was an NCAA championship, where Pre won 12:53 to 13:00.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Coach J wrote:

My late good friend Dick Buerkle beat Pre at least twice at 3 miles and in an indoor 2 miler. One of the most underrated greats of all time; walk on at Villanova to world record holder at age 31.

Pre was better, though. I remember Buekle beating Pre only once, in an indoor 2-mile. I believe they only ran against each other once at 3-mile/5000,which was an NCAA championship, where Pre won 12:53 to 13:00.

That was an AAU win for Pre over Buerkle who ran 12:59.8. Not a collegiate race.