On June 2nd, Hayward Field hosted one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Originally named the Hayward Field Restoration Race, the Prefontaine Classic received its name in 1975 after legendary University of Oregon distance runner and Olympic athlete Steve Prefontaine was killed in a car accident a week prior to the meet. Since 2000, it has been ranked first among all annual track and field meets outside of Europe by the IAAF, the international governing body for the sport. Athletes must be ranked in the Top 50 in the world in their events to be eligible to compete in this elite track and field showcase.

Although Prefonatine is internationally known and recognized, very few students know about his accomplishments. Prefontaine was born in Coos Bay, Oregon in 1951 and attended the University of Oregon from 1970-1973. He won the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship three of his four years at Oregon and participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich running long distance in the 5000-meter race. Prefontaine will always be remembered at the University of Oregon as a legendary track star who sparked the running boom of the 1970s.