So why did he have to cover up his track club name?
So why did he have to cover up his track club name?
This is old news. It stands for a racial slur, but some meets were unaware at first.
Not a racial slur at all. Stands for south west harrier pirates. Is pirate a racial slur?
BrianFantana wrote:
Not a racial slur at all. Stands for south west harrier pirates. Is pirate a racial slur?
So why covered up?
Might not be a usatf registered club
Does anyone know what SWHP stands for?
My old neighbor co-founded SWHP. It's how Pre signed his name.
When interviewed after his indoor 3:57 at last February's Millrose Games in New York City, Drew Hunter was asked about the meaning the SWHP Track Club singlet. Hunter said the designer, Nick Roche of Portland, won't tell anyone, but that it did have a tie-in to Pre.
On swhptc.com you'll find a little more, but the meaning of SWHP is still a mystery:
Everybody knows the story of Steve Prefontaine. He was more than a runner – he was a rock star. A rebel. Beyond his incredible performances on the track, and his fight for athletes’ rights off of it, Pre had a certain edginess and another side that most people never got to see. Pat Tyson, his college roommate and best friend, got to see that side while living together in the trailer chasing their dreams. Pre's death shook the running community and the entire world in an unprecedented way. Nobody could believe it. For Tyson, the moment changed his life, and he held on to a series of letters Steve had written him over the years. Each letter was followed by a handwritten signature and four letters: SWHP.
Transient
Fast forward to 2011. Two other college roommates found themselves under the coaching leadership of Tyson while running at Gonzaga University, and became indoctrinated in the way of Pre. His legacy lived on in their approach to running and competing, but there was a desire to reflect that even more clearly. Thus, SWHP was born. It had modest roots, as unattached athletes began competing under the Pseudo “SWHP Track Club.†Cutoff T-Shirts evolved into legitimate uniforms, and what was once an isolated identity became a message that needed to be shared with the world. There is only one qualification to become a member of the club: real runners only. Pre wouldn’t have it any other way.
So what is SWHP?
There’s only one way to find out. Join the movement.
Regarding SWHP standing for South West Harrier Pirates, athletes at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay -- Pre's alma mater -- were the Pirates. And a harrier is a cross country runner.
Here's a photo of Pre in a Pirate t-shirt:
luv2run wrote:
So why did he have to cover up his track club name?
Because Diamond League Meets are under IAAF logo rules, it would need to be a small logo in the corner of the jersey, not a big one in the middle.
But they are giant hypocrites, they made Lavillenie an "Oregon" bodysuit with a giant O in the middle. That's also a logo...
Lavillenie today:
https://twitter.com/jokin4318/status/736662296873828352LappedMiler wrote:
When interviewed after his indoor 3:57 at last February's Millrose Games in New York City, Drew Hunter was asked about the meaning the SWHP Track Club singlet. Hunter said the designer, Nick Roche of Portland, won't tell anyone, but that it did have a tie-in to Pre.
On swhptc.com you'll find a little more, but the meaning of SWHP is still a mystery:
Everybody knows the story of Steve Prefontaine. He was more than a runner – he was a rock star. A rebel. Beyond his incredible performances on the track, and his fight for athletes’ rights off of it, Pre had a certain edginess and another side that most people never got to see. Pat Tyson, his college roommate and best friend, got to see that side while living together in the trailer chasing their dreams. Pre's death shook the running community and the entire world in an unprecedented way. Nobody could believe it. For Tyson, the moment changed his life, and he held on to a series of letters Steve had written him over the years. Each letter was followed by a handwritten signature and four letters: SWHP.
Transient
Fast forward to 2011. Two other college roommates found themselves under the coaching leadership of Tyson while running at Gonzaga University, and became indoctrinated in the way of Pre. His legacy lived on in their approach to running and competing, but there was a desire to reflect that even more clearly. Thus, SWHP was born. It had modest roots, as unattached athletes began competing under the Pseudo “SWHP Track Club.†Cutoff T-Shirts evolved into legitimate uniforms, and what was once an isolated identity became a message that needed to be shared with the world. There is only one qualification to become a member of the club: real runners only. Pre wouldn’t have it any other way.
So what is SWHP?
There’s only one way to find out. Join the movement.
Sounds incredibly corny.
This is all about as dumb as Steve Magness's Klein Oak "FMR Track Club" from back in the early 2000s.
A bit of fun and games ain't a bad thing for the sport, except that USATF or IAAF rules being enforced in this case is understandable.
It seems that the true meaning of SWHP is a matter of interpretation. Similarly, could Drew Hunter's high school's abbreviation, LVHS, really stand for Lucas Verzbicas High School, not Loudoun Valley High School?
There is no way that's what it actually stands for... Plus how will we ever find out unless the guys behind it or Pat Tyson come out? I hope it's "Steve Works Hard Prefontaine"
Just as interesting is that he wore an Adidas singlet to a Nike/Oregon event. He'll learn that that is considered and insult at Hayward Field.
Looks like he wore Adidas everything.
People of Planet Earth UNITE! Put an end to SWHP Track Club and it's vile, sneaky leadership before further sub-4:00 high school milers are corrupted!