His First Olympics

Steve Prefontaine went to the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Steve was ready to move on from being the best in America to the best in the world. Pre was doing some sharpening races to get him ready for the Olympics. He raced against the former world record holder for the two mile and beet him with ease. He also did many gut wrenching workouts like 3 by 1 mile repeats or 4 1200 repeats. His times for the 1200 were 3:12, 3:09, 3:06, and 3:00. For another sharpening work out his coach had him run a solo mile in under 4:00 he did it in 3:59 with no competition. Pre went to Munich with his eyes set on at least a bronze or a silver metal but hopefully a gold. Pre was doing awesome in the race he was in the top three in a race with veterans and he wasn't even in his prime. He went to the outside with about 300 to go and the guy in second place cut him off and he had to go back to third; he tried it again at about 200 to go but got cut off again but this time he lost all of his momentum and the man in fourth place stepped up and never looked back, Pre got fourth instead of his almost for sure third place finish. Here's a link to a sight that has a video of the last part of the race. Pre went back the the US and skipped his 1972 Cross Country and indoor track seasons so he could train harder for outdoor track in the spring. With this he was granted and extra year of eligibility for the 1973 cross country and indoor track seasons. Steve won every 5000 meter NCAA Championship in college and won three out of the for cross country championships which is the first time this had ever happened.