Prefontaine Named to Inaugural Class of Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS – Oregon track and field icon and seven-time NCAA champion Steve Prefontaine will be inducted into the newly established Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame for cross country and track and field as a member of the inaugural class.
 
The entire 30-person class of past collegiate standouts was announced Thursday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
Between the time he got to the University of Oregon in the fall of 1969 and when he graduated in 1973, Prefontaine won three NCAA titles in cross country (1970-71, '73) and four titles in the three-mile/5,000 meters (1970-73). In sweeping those outdoor titles, Pre became the first collegian to ever win four NCAA titles in a single event.
 
At the conference level, Pre won four Pac-8 titles in the three-mile event, sweeping the wins from 1970-73. He also won the conference crown in the mile in 1971.
 
The Coos Bay, Ore., native owned every American record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters, as well as between two and six miles at some point during his storied career. Pre also held eight collegiate records during his time in Eugene.
 
In a display of his dominance, Pre broke his own or other American records 14 times, eclipsed the four-minute barrier in the mile nine times, ran 25 two-mile races under 8:40 and 10 5,000-meter races faster than 13:30. Including his post-collegiate career, Pre ran in 38 races at Historic Hayward Field between 1970-75 with only three losses.
 
As part of reimagined Hayward Field, Prefontaine is one of five Oregon greats honored with their image displayed on The Tower. Pre is honored alongside legendary coach Bill Bowerman, Raevyn Rogers, Otis Davis and Ashton Eaton.
 
The induction ceremony is set to take place at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore., at 7:30 p.m. on June 6, which is the Mondy preceding the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held at Hayward Field. The on-site event will be free and open to the public, and can also be access worldwide via YouTube live webcast.
 
2022 USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame
The Inaugural Class
Jenny Barringer (Colorado)
Ralph Boston (Tennessee State)
Ron Delany (Villanova)
Harrison Dillard (Baldwin Wallace)
Suzy Favor (Wisconsin)
Charlie Greene (Nebraska)
Carlette Guidry (Texas)
DeHart Hubbard (Michigan)
Vicki Huber (Villanova)
Jackie Johnson (Arizona State)
Jackie Joyner (UCLA)
Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech)
Carl Lewis (Houston)
Gerry Lindgren (Washington State)
Randy Matson (Texas A&M)
Ralph Metcalfe (Marquette)
Rodney Milburn (Southern)
Bobby Morrow (Abilene Christian)
Suleiman Nyambui (UTEP)
Billy Olson (Abilene Christian)
Merlene Ottey (Nebraska)
Jesse Owens (Ohio State)
Mel Patton (Southern California)
Steve Prefontaine (Oregon)
Meg Ritchie (Arizona)
Henry Rono (Washington)
Wilma Rudolph (Tennessee State)
Jim Ryun (Kansas)
Erick Walder (Arkansas)
John Woodruff (Pittsburgh)
 
Eligibility for induction this year was limited to men who had competed their collegiate eligibility prior to 2000 and women prior to 2010.
 
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