Did Prefontaine ever win a race internationally?

1970

26 Jul 1500m- 3:44.9 (Moscow)

1971

No races in Europe, but beat Yifter over 5000m in Raleigh after he kicked early.

1972

3 Aug 3000m- 7:44.2 (Bislett Games/Oslo)

24 Aug 2M- 8:19.4 (Pre-Olympic/Munich)

1973

4 Jul 5000m- 13:40.6 (Oulu)

1974

18 Jun 3000m- 7:55.8 (Tampere)

20 Jun 3000m- 8:00.3 (Kuahava)

22 Jun 3000m- 8:07.4 (Saarijarvi)

9 Jul 3000m- 7:57.4 (Varkaus)

14 Jul 5000m- 13:55.6 (Juotseno)

These are all taken out of the back of the Tom Jordan book. Unfortunately Jordan usually doesn't list who he beat, only the winner and time when he lost.

International 7/26/70 Moscow 1500 Meters 3:44.9 1st

Postal 12/12/70 Eugene 3 Mile 13:25.6 1st

Quadrangular 3/20/71 Eugene 2 Mile 8:33.2 1st

Vs. San Diego St. 3/27/71 San Diego Mile 4:00.2 1st

Vs. Stanford 4/3/71 Eugene 3 Mile 13:01.6 1st

Vs. Washington 4/10/71 Eugene Mile 4:02.6 1st

Vs. Washington 4/10/71 Eugene 2 Mile 8:36.2 1st

Vs. California 4/17/71 Eugene 3 Mile 13:34.0 1st

Vs. UCLA 4/24/71 Westwood Mile 3:59.1 1st

Vs. Oregon St. 5/8/71 Corvallis 2 Mile 8:42.4 1st

Northern Division 5/15/71 Pullman 2 Mile 8:42.4 1st

Pac-8 Championships 5/22/71 Seattle Mile 4:01.5 1st

Pac-8 Championships 5/22/71 Seattle 3 Mile 13:18.0 1st

Oregon Twighlight 6/6/71 Eugene Mile 3:57.4 2nd

NCAA Prelim Heat 6/17/71 Seattle 3 Mile 13:34.6 1st

NCAA Finals 6/19/71 Seattle 3 Mile 13:20.2 1st

AAU Championships 6/25/71 Eugene 3 Mile 12:58.6 1st

Vs. U.S.S.R. All-Stars 7/3/71 Berkeley 5000 Meters 13:30.4(AR) 1st

Vs. Africa 7/16/71 Durham 5000 Meters 13:57.6 1st

Pan Am Games 8/2/71 Cali 5000 Meters 13:52.6 1st

Vs. Fresno St. 3/18/72 Fresno 2 Mile 8:55.4 1st

All Comers 3/25/72 Bakersfield 6 Mile 27:22.4(NCAA) 1st

Oregon Invitational 4/1/72 Eugene 2 Mile 8:35.8 1st

Vs. Washington 4/8/72 Seattle Mile 4:07.3 1st

Vs. Nebraska 4/15/72 Lincoln 2 Mile 8:35.2 1st

Oregon Twighlight 4/23/72 Eugene Mile 3:56.7 1st

Vs. Washington St. 4/29/72 Eugene 5000 Meters 13:29.6(AR) 1st

Vs. Oregon St. 5/6/72 Eugene 1500 Meters 3:39.8 1st

Pac-8 Championships 5/20/72 Stanford 3 Mile 13:32.2 1st

NCAA Prelim Heat 6/1/72 Eugene 5000 Meters 14:01.4 1st

NCAA Finals 6/3/72 Eugene 5000 Meters 13:31.4 1st

Rose Festival 6/24/72 Gresham 3000 Meters 7:45.8(AR) 1st

Olympic Trials Prelim Heat 7/6/72 Eugene 5000 Meters 13:51.2 1st

Olympic Trials Finals 7/9/72 Eugene 5000 Meters 13:22.8(AR) 1st

Bislett Games 8/2/72 Oslo 1500 Meters 3:39.4 2nd

Bislett Games 8/3/72 Oslo 3000 Meters 7:44.2(AR) 1st

Pre-Olympic 8/24/72 Munich 2 Mile 8:19.4(AR) 1st

Olympic Prelim Heat 9/7/72 Munich 5000 Meters 13:32.6 2nd

Olympic Finals 9/10/72 Munich 5000 Meters 13:28.3 4th

Zauli Memorial 9/13/72 Rome 5000 Meters 13:26.4 2nd

Coca-Cola 9/15/72 London 2 Mile 8:24.8 2nd

All Comers 3/17/73 Eugene 2000 5:06.2 1st

All Comers 3/24/73 Bakersfield 6 Mile 27:09.4 1st

Oregon Invitational 3/31/73 Eugene 2 Mile 8:31.8 1st

Vs. Washington 4/7/73 Eugene Mile 4:03.2 1st

Quadrangular 4/14/73 Eugene Mile 3:56.8 1st

Quadrangular 4/14/73 Eugene 3 Mile 13:06.4 1st

Oregon Twighlight 4/27/73 Eugene Mile 3:55.0 1st

Vs. Oregon St. 5/5/73 Corvallis 3 Mile 13:27.2 1st

Pac-8 Championships 5/19/73 Eugene 3 Mile 13:10.4 1st

Oregon Twighlight II 5/29/73 Eugene 2 Mile 8:24.6 1st

NCAA Prelim Heat 6/7/73 Baton Rouge 3 Mile 13:19.0 1st

NCAA Finals 6/9/73 Baton Rouge 3 Mile 13:05.3 1st

AAU Prelim Heat 6/14/73 Bakersfield 3 Mile 13:17.8 1st

AAU Finals 6/16/73 Bakersfield 3 Mile 12:53.4 1st

Hayward Restoration 6/20/73 Eugene Mile 3:54.6 2nd

International 6/23/73 Helsinki 1500 Meters 3:43.1 3rd

World Games 6/27/73 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:22.4(AR) 2nd

World Games 6/28/73 Helsinki 1500 Meters 3:38.1 11th

International 7/1/73 Kajaani 1500 Meters 3:46.5 2nd

International 7/2/73 Joensuu 1500 Meters 3:48.2 3rd

International 7/4/73 Oulu 5000 Meters 13:40.6 1st

Vs. W. Germany, Sweden 7/12/73 Munich 5000 Meters 13:23.8 2nd

International 7/15/73 Louvain 5000 Meters 13:35.2 2nd

JV Invitational 4/6/74 Eugene Mile 4:07.2 1st

JV Invitational 4/6/74 Eugene 2 Mile 8:49.4 1st

Mt. Hood Relays 4/20/74 Gresham 2 Mile 8:30.4 1st

Oregon Twighlight 4/27/74 Eugene 10000 Meters 27:43.6(AR) 1st

Bakersfield Classic 5/18/74 Bakersfield 2 Mile 8:34.4 1st

Hilites 5/30/74 Corvallis 2 Mile 8:35.8 1st

Hayward Restoration 6/8/74 Eugene 3 Mile 12:51.4(AR) 1st

International 6/18/74 Tampere 3000 Meters 7:55.8 1st

International 6/20/74 Kauhava 3000 Meters 8:00.4 1st

International 6/22/74 Saarijarvi 3000 Meters 8:07.4 1st

World Games 6/26/74 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:21.9(AR) 2nd

International 7/2/74 Milan 3000 Meters 7:42.6(AR) 2nd

International 7/9/74 Varkaus 3000 Meters 7:57.4 1st

International 7/14/74 Joutseno 5000 Meters 13:55.6 1st

July Games 7/18/74 Stockholm 2 Mile 8:18.4(AR) 3rd

All Comers 9/3/74 Eugene Mile 3:58.3 1st

International 9/10/74 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:27.4 3rd

Coca-Cola 9/13/74 London 2 Mile Did Not Finish DNF

Oregon Twighlight 4/26/75 Eugene 10000 Meters 28:09.4 1st

Finnish Tour 5/4/75 Madras 3000 Meters 8:26.4 1st

Finnish Tour 5/9/75 Coos Bay 2000 Meters 5:01.4(AR) 1st

Finnish Tour 5/15/75 Burnaby 5000 Meters 13:46.8 1st

California Relays 5/24/75 Modesto 2 Mile 8:36.4 1st

NCAA Prep 5/29/75 Eugene 5000 Meters 13:23.8 1st

You be the judge.

What about Pre's XC record? Thanks.

International 7/26/70 Moscow 1500 Meters 3:44.9 1st

Vs. U.S.S.R. All-Stars 7/3/71 Berkeley 5000 Meters 13:30.4(AR) 1st

Vs. Africa 7/16/71 Durham 5000 Meters 13:57.6 1st

Pan Am Games 8/2/71 Cali 5000 Meters 13:52.6 1st

Bislett Games 8/2/72 Oslo 1500 Meters 3:39.4 2nd

Bislett Games 8/3/72 Oslo 3000 Meters 7:44.2(AR) 1st

Pre-Olympic 8/24/72 Munich 2 Mile 8:19.4(AR) 1st

Olympic Prelim Heat 9/7/72 Munich 5000 Meters 13:32.6 2nd

Olympic Finals 9/10/72 Munich 5000 Meters 13:28.3 4th

Zauli Memorial 9/13/72 Rome 5000 Meters 13:26.4 2nd

Coca-Cola 9/15/72 London 2 Mile 8:24.8 2nd

International 6/23/73 Helsinki 1500 Meters 3:43.1 3rd

World Games 6/27/73 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:22.4(AR) 2nd

World Games 6/28/73 Helsinki 1500 Meters 3:38.1 11th

International 7/1/73 Kajaani 1500 Meters 3:46.5 2nd

International 7/2/73 Joensuu 1500 Meters 3:48.2 3rd

International 7/4/73 Oulu 5000 Meters 13:40.6 1st

Vs. W. Germany, Sweden 7/12/73 Munich 5000 Meters 13:23.8 2nd

International 7/15/73 Louvain 5000 Meters 13:35.2 2nd

International 6/18/74 Tampere 3000 Meters 7:55.8 1st

International 6/20/74 Kauhava 3000 Meters 8:00.4 1st

International 6/22/74 Saarijarvi 3000 Meters 8:07.4 1st

World Games 6/26/74 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:21.9(AR) 2nd

International 7/2/74 Milan 3000 Meters 7:42.6(AR) 2nd

International 7/9/74 Varkaus 3000 Meters 7:57.4 1st

International 7/14/74 Joutseno 5000 Meters 13:55.6 1st

July Games 7/18/74 Stockholm 2 Mile 8:18.4(AR) 3rd

International 9/10/74 Helsinki 5000 Meters 13:27.4 3rd

Finnish Tour 5/4/75 Madras 3000 Meters 8:26.4 1st

Finnish Tour 5/9/75 Coos Bay 2000 Meters 5:01.4(AR) 1st

Finnish Tour 5/15/75 Burnaby 5000 Meters 13:46.8 1st

thanks Seriously

Unbelievable

I thought for a minute then my eyes watered up

Thank you for this information and for providing the source.

So Pre's best 1,500 meter victory in Europe was 3:44.9 in Moscow. His best 2,000 meter victory was 5:01.4 in Finland. His best 3,000 victory was 7:44.2 at the Bislet Games. His best two-mile victory was 8:19.4 in Munich. And his best 5,000 victory was 13:40.6 in Finland.

Maybe he beat Anders Gardederud in some of these races. Garderud was the top steeplechaser at the time. But I doubt if Pre beat any of his other main rivals in any of these victories.

When Pre raced against the best competition in Europe, he consistently finished in the top four. But he never won a major European race against the best.

davebedfordwannabe wrote:

When Pre raced against the best competition in Europe, he consistently finished in the top four. But he never won a major European race against the best.

Sorry douchebag, Bislet has always been a big event.

Troll Alert

Thanks for your classy post. Bislett didn't become a big event until Coe set his 800 meter record there in 1979. It really took off after 1982, when Dave Moorcroft set his world record in the 5,000 meters. Said Aouita broke Moorcroft's record at Bislett in 1985.

It's true that Ron Clarke set a world record there in 1965 and that Anders Garderud set a world steeplechase record in 1975, but in 1972 when Pre won the 3,000, Bislett was more of an Olympic tune-up race than a major event.

davebedfordwannabe wrote:

Thanks for your classy post. Bislett didn't become a big event until Coe set his 800 meter record there in 1979. It really took off after 1982, when Dave Moorcroft set his world record in the 5,000 meters. Said Aouita broke Moorcroft's record at Bislett in 1985.

It's true that Ron Clarke set a world record there in 1965 and that Anders Garderud set a world steeplechase record in 1975, but in 1972 when Pre won the 3,000, Bislett was more of an Olympic tune-up race than a major event.

I like your style, pretend to be innocent and ignorant, then paste the stats you've been working up in your microsoft work doc. titled "My case against Pre."

You could retitle it "My case against a man who did more than I ever will and earned more respect and admiration than I ever could."

How's the underside of that bridge?

I only wish I could drink as much as Pre.

Haha, so do I. That would be kickass.

Actually, the only time I saw Pre run a race was when he dropped out. It was in connection with that Cooper's Clinic Vo2-max study in January 1975. All the guys showed up for the six mile race, which Gary Tuttle won. I think Shorter was second and Kardong may have been third. Prefontaine dropped out after two miles, saying something about not wanting to mess up his track season. My own theory is that he didn't simply didn't want to lose a race on U.S. soil.

davebedfordwannabe wrote:

I only wish I could drink as much as Pre.

Ahh, here it comes. You finally got to the point that you were tap dancing around in circles to get to.

You obviously were not born anytime in the early 80's or before when the popular consensus against drinking and driving was not what you see today. Societal norms change over time and it is easy (if you forget to think) to look back and cast the views that society has evolved to today back at the past. But that just doesn't work, and if you live a little longer you will experience this from your kids or nephews.

So you wish you could drink as much as Pre huh? Well I bet I can. I would also bet that a significant portion of professional male athletes (I think it's fair to assume that more males are consuming more alcohol) in numerous sports around the world can, could or will be able to drink as much as Pre.

You grew up in America and you were taught to be scared of alcohol, it's the devils drink etc. etc. Well that's the problem right there, you were never shown that it can be consumed and people can function (as is done regularly in all other corners of the world) with alcohol in their diet.

That's what they don't teach you in school. I'm not advocating being a drunkard. I'm advocating you to get off your high horse and get a bite of reality.

Drinking is a huge part of many other cultures. The cultures who make the cars you buy (either on the economic and reliable level or the performance level) and the electronics you buy.

Ohh, and you probably meant to say that you wish you could drink and drive like him, right? Let me ask you a question. How do you think the rest of the people who were there drinking at that party in the hills got home that night in a town with maybe 3 taxis?

I've always wondered how badly Frank Shorter and Kenny Moore feel about being the reasons Pre was driving on Skyline that night?

considering the fact that the three of them had a death pact together and after pre died Frank Shorter and Kenny Moore killed themselves too, I would have to go with pretty bad.

You can say what you want about the motivation of the original poster, but I for one am interested in the answer to his question. Did Prefontaine win any races against top-level international competition? I know from the lists above that he won many races, but who did he beat in those races? None of those lists state who the other runners were.

DaveBedfordwannabe, I find you on the whole to be reasonable, well-researched, and quite frankly not a typical letsrun moron. However, I really don't understand your case against Prefontaine.

I agree with you that he's extremely overrated, and that Nike has a hand in this. I think that if he was as much the "rebel" and "free spirit" everyone suggests, he wouldn't much care for Nike making him into a tool to sell shoes.

However, you have to understand the effect this image has on people. A person so charismatic is inspiring. Pre's story was extremely inspiring to me, and even though I know alot of it now is only Nike propaganda, that doens't mean I don't respect the things he actually accomplished.

He's not a distance god, but he was no slouch. Let's give credit where its due.

Other than that, please continue to be your logical, nonretarded self (not sarcastic).

Sincerely,

Craig.

I agree it would be great to know the field in these races.

Dave, your feigned ignorance when you've indicated Pre was overated all over the place gives Raubrey a chance to call you out. First, anytime I saw Pre race, (even on a dvd), he showed guts. His peers really respected him and he electrified fans. His vanity (my term) made him great and cost him a medal in '72. His 4th gives license to your arguement, but he had nothing left on the track that day. He gave it his ALL. That gets my respect, even if I think he ran a dumb race. It was his race and the track got it.

Viren, Gammoudi, Yifter, etc were all great runners. Great runners. Even your idol, who didn't have the best '72 Olympics either, was a great runner. Pre was made an icon when the sport needed it when Sports Illustrated put him on the cover. He lived up to the hype though and sadly he died too young.