Fire on the Track

Last updated

Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story is a 1995 American sports documentary directed by Erich Lyttle and produced by Scott Chambers. [1] It tells the story of Steve Prefontaine, an American middle and long-distance runner who set records in seven different distance track events from 2,000 to 10,000 meters.

The documentary is narrated by Ken Kesey, and features interviews with Phil Knight, Dana Carvey, Brian Lanker, Kenny Moore, Alberto Salazar, Erich Segal, Frank Shorter, Mary Decker, Mac Wilkins, and Lasse Virén, among others.

It premiered on June 4, 1995, on CBS, and was directly followed by the network's live coverage of the 1995 Prefontaine Classic. [2] [3]

The documentary drew some criticism for its sanitization of Prefontaine's story and for being as much about the Nike corporation as it was about Prefontaine; it was entirely funded by Nike, and the company featured prominently in 15% of the 58-minute film. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Prefontaine</span> American long-distance runner (1951–1975)

Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American long-distance runner who from 1973 to 1975 set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and was preparing for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Track Club at the time of his death in 1975. Prefontaine's career, alongside those of Jim Ryun, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers, generated considerable media coverage, which helped inspire the 1970s "running boom." He died at age 24 in an automobile crash near his residence in Eugene, Oregon. One of the premier track meets in the world, the Prefontaine Classic, is held annually in Eugene in his honor. Prefontaine's celebrity and charisma later resulted in two 1990s feature films about his short life.

<i>Prefontaine</i> (film) 1997 American film

Prefontaine is a 1997 American biographical film chronicling the life of the American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his death at age 24. Jared Leto plays the title character and R. Lee Ermey plays Bill Bowerman. The film was written by Steve James and Eugene Corr, and directed by James. Prefontaine tells the story from the point of view of Bill Dellinger, played by Ed O'Neill, the assistant coach who was with him day-to-day, and Nancy Alleman, the runner's girlfriend at the time of his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayward Field</span> Track and field stadium in Eugene, Oregon, U.S.

Hayward Field is a track and field stadium in the Northwestern United States, located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. It has been the home of the university's track and field teams since 1921, and was the on-campus home of the varsity football team from 1919 through 1966. Track and field competitions at the stadium are organized by the not-for-profit organization TrackTown USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bowerman</span> American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc

William Jay Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 22 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Moore (runner)</span> American long-distance runner and journalist (1943–2022)

Kenneth Clark Moore was an American Olympic road running athlete and journalist. He ran the marathon at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth at the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prefontaine Classic</span>

The Prefontaine Classic is a track and field meet held at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Organized by the Oregon Track Club, it was previously one of the IAAF Grand Prix events, and is now part of the Diamond League. The meet is one of the few international competitions to host the imperial distances of the Mile run and 2 Mile run.

Rodolfo ("Rudy") Chapa is a retired American track and field athlete who specialized in the middle to long-distance events. He set the US high school national record for the 10,000 meters when he ran 28:32 in 1976. Chapa was one of the most versatile distance runners, with a remarkable competitive range from the 1500 meters to the marathon. He is the son of Mexican immigrants. His father Rodolfo Sr. came to the US as a mechanic through the Bracero program.

Craig Steven Virgin is an American distance runner. He was born in Belleville, Illinois, and grew up near Lebanon, Illinois. While in high school, Virgin won 5 state championships as well as setting the national outdoor high school 2-mile record of 8:40.9. Additionally, Virgin held the Illinois Boys Cross Country all-time state championship record for 47 years, running a 13:50.6 in 1972, a record that stood until November 9, 2019, when Josh Methner of John Hersey High School ran a 13:49.86. Virgin was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1973.

<i>Without Limits</i> 1998 film by Robert Towne

Without Limits is a 1998 American biographical sports film. It is written and directed by Robert Towne and follows the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman, who later co-founded Nike, Inc. Billy Crudup plays Prefontaine and Donald Sutherland plays Bowerman. It also stars Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto, Judith Ivey, Matthew Lillard and William Mapother.

Jon Peter Anderson, is a lifelong Eugene, Oregon resident. He was a publisher and runner best known for winning the 1973 Boston Marathon. Anderson was a competitive long-distance runner from 1966 to 1984. He represented the United States as a member of the 1972 US Olympic track and field team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nike, Inc.</span> American athletic equipment company

Nike, Inc. is an American athletic footwear and apparel corporation headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, United States. It is the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with revenue in excess of US$46 billion in its fiscal year 2022.

Caroline Walker is a former American long-distance runner from Oregon who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on February 28, 1970 with a time of 3:02:53 at the inaugural Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon.

Prefontaine is a surname of French-Canadian origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics West</span> American athletic team

Athletics West was an American running team formed in 1977 by Bill Bowerman, Phil Knight and Geoff Hollister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Track Club</span> American running organization

The Oregon Track Club (OTC) is an American running organization based in Eugene, Oregon.

The running boom of the 1970s occurred in high- and middle-income countries. It was particularly pronounced in the United States and occurred in other countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Ducks track and field</span> Intercollegiate track and field team of for the University of Oregon

The Oregon Ducks track and field program is the intercollegiate track and field team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The team participates in indoor and outdoor track and field as well as cross country. Known as the Ducks, Oregon's first track and field team was fielded in 1895. The team holds its home meets at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Jerry Schumacher is the current head coach and since the program's inception in 1895, there have only been eight permanent head coaches. The Ducks claim 32 NCAA National Championships among the three disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Webb (runner)</span> American middle distance runner

Alan Webb is an American former track and field athlete and former triathlete. He held the American national record in the mile, with a time of 3 minutes 46.91 seconds, from July 2007 to September 2023. Webb represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the men's 1500-meters race. He competed professionally for Nike until the end of 2013. He retired after the 2014 Millrose Games. He currently serves as head coach for the Ave Maria University cross country, swimming, and track and field teams.

A negative split is a racing strategy that involves completing the second half of a race faster than the first half. It is defined by the intentional setting of a slower initial pace, followed by a gradual or sudden increase of speed towards the end of the race. Alternate strategies include even splitting or sit and kick. Conversely, the act of completing the first half of a race faster than the second half is known as a positive split.

Luke Puskedra is an American long-distance runner who competes over distances ranging from 10,000 meters to the marathon.

References

  1. Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story (1995 Video) IMDb
  2. Jordan, Tom (1996). Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine. Rodale. p. 2. ISBN   9780875964577 . Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  3. Moore, Kenny (2006). Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Co-founder. Rodale. p. 410. ISBN   9781594861901 . Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  4. Bale, John (2004). Running Cultures: Racing in Time and Space. Psychology Press. p. 121. ISBN   9780714684246 . Retrieved 2017-05-09.