Connect Four: Prefontaine Makes History

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Connect Four: Prefontaine Makes History

June 9, 1973

On June 9, 1973, Steve Prefontaine of Oregon became the first athlete to win titles in the same outdoor event four times, claiming the 3-mile/5000m from 1970-73. He set meet records with each victory, plus another in a preliminary. He led practically every lap, never being one to sit and kick.

Pre never lost a collegiate race beyond a mile. He set collegiate records in three of his four years in the 5K, plus two in the 6-mile, which he only contested early in the season.

Prefontaine became a legend early in his collegiate career and the “Go Pre” chants at Hayward Field drew interest well beyond the borders of his native Oregon.

His lore grew even more in 1972 when he followed up his NCAA meet record in the 5K of 13:31.4h by smashing his own American record at the U.S. Olympic Trials with his 13:22.8h. Then later that summer, he forged the pace in the Munich Olympic Games, ultimately finishing fourth after leading several times in the final 800 meters.

On this day in 1975, Pre died in a single-vehicle automobile accident and is still remembered around the world. The Prefontaine Classic meet began days later and has seen numerous records set over the years, including four world records and Alan Webb’s incredible all-time high school mile best.

posted: May 30, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.

This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.

To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.

The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Memorable Moments
Tough Keeping Up With This Jones

Jolanda Jones won three heptathlon titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and scored more than 6000 points twice.

Peters At Head Of Jav U’s Class

Anderson Peters won back-to-back javelin titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships and broke and bettered the meet record twice.

Fitzgerald Hurdled Into The Record Books
June 4, 1983

Benita Fitzgerald won back-to-back 100H titles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 1982 & 1983, setting a collegiate record and meet record with her time of 12.84 in 1983.

An Illustrious Career For Charlie Craig

Charlie Craig won the triple jump at the 1964 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Then, after a long coaching career, he was inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame!