Bill Bowerman, June 1, 1975
“In living memorial to Pre –
his inspiration, his ambition”
The Prefontaine Classic is the premier track and field meet in the United States. Since its inception in 1975, the meet has been a fixture in the global track and field calendar, earning a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
A LEGACY OF GREATNESS
The Pre Classic began in earnest in 1973 as the Hayward Restoration Meet. Bill Bowerman and the Oregon Track Club put on the event to help raise funds for the renovation of the West Grandstands at Hayward Field.
In the first year, 12,000 fans packed the stands to watch Steve Prefontaine and David Wottle take a run at the mile world record. Wottle edged out Pre 3:53.3 to 3:54.6, clocking the second fastest mile ever run by an American at the time.
Returning in 1974, the meet continued to establish it’s reputation for world-class performances, with Rick Wohlhuter running 1:44.1 to break the 880-meter world record and Pre beating Frank Shorter in a legendary dual in the three-mile, running an American record time of 12:51.4.
The renovated West Grandstands were completed early in 1975. However, the meet’s continued success in bringing top tier talent to compete at Hayward Field and its ability to feed the insatiable appetite of the knowledgeable track and field fans in the community helped it become an annual fixture in the Oregon track season. It was to be renamed the Bowerman Classic.
Steve Prefontaine and Frank Shorter at the 1974 Hayward Restoration Meet. Photo by Erik Hill
A LIVING MEMORIAL
UO Libraries Special Collections and University Archives
On May 30th, 1975, eight days before the inaugural Bowerman Classic, the world lost Pre. On June 1st, Bowerman and the Oregon Track Club board announced that the meet would be renamed.
“[Pre] was a driving force in the two Restoration meets,” said Bill. “Our Oregon Track Club Board concurs that in living memorial to Pre – his inspiration, his ambition – the meet he did so much to make successful should bear his name. Next Saturday evening you may attend the Steve Prefontaine Classic, a first step in a parade of opportunities to share directly in the dreams of Steve Prefontaine.”
On June 7th, the first annual Prefontaine Classic was held. In the meet Jamaica’s Don Quarrie broke the 220 yard world record, clocking 19.9. Pre would have been proud.
A HOME FOR WORLD-CLASS TRACK & FIELD
Since the first Prefontaine Classic in 1975, the meet has truly cemented itself as a home for the not only the nation’s, but the world’s best track and field athletes. Long-time meet director Tom Jordan estimated “well over 150” countries had been represented over the meet’s history prior his final year in 2021.
The meet has also boasted some of the most iconic performances on U.S. soil. From Maria Mutola’s 16 consecutive Pre Classic victories, six men breaking 80 meters in the 2018 javelin competition, and Hicham El Guerrouj and Alan Webb in the 2001 Bowerman Mile to name a few, athletes always rise to the occasion for the Hayward Field crowd.
The meet is also famous for putting together the greatest Mile races in the United States. No other American meet has seen as many sub-4:00 performances. The world-renowned success of The Prefontaine Classic led to it becoming a founding member of the Diamond League circuit, an annual series of the top-tier World Athletics meets, in 2010.
Fans who attend the meet are always treated to a world-class show.
