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Quiz about Prefontaine Long Distance Hero

Prefontaine: Long Distance Hero Quiz

This quiz is on Steve Prefontaine, arguably America's greatest distance runner ever.

A multiple-choice quiz by ldrunner3. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ldrunner3

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
118,763

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
550

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Steve Prefontaine was born in Marshfield in 1951, and went to high school in Coos Bay?

True

False

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What kind of runners did Steve Prefontaine have no respect for, whatsoever? Hint

Steve Prefontaine had respect for all runners, regardless.

Frontrunners, that try to control the race animalistically from start to finish

Runners who 'sit and kick', letting everyone else do all the work

'Even' runners, that have no kick but maintain the same annoying pace the entire race

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was Steve Prefontaine's national high school two mile record that he set in 1968? Hint

7:58

8:41

8:33

8:24

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which runners and in what order, beat Steve Prefontaine in the Olympic final of the Munich 1972 5000 meters? Hint

Gammoudi, Dixon, Viren

Viren, Gammoudi, Dixon

Viren, Gammoudi, Stewart

Viren, Stewart, Bedford

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What was Steve's main competition in his last race ever, in 1975, right before he was killed in a tragic car accident? Hint

Frank Shorter

George Young

Lasse Viren

Don Kardong

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Question 6 of 10

6. What happened in the 1972 Munich Olympic 5000 meter heats? Hint

Pre won a close one over Puttemans

Puttemans won with an Olympic Record

Puttemans beat Pre, setting a world record

Pre took it easy the last lap and still beat Puttemans

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Who wrote the book 'Pre, the story of America's greatest running legend'? Hint

Steve James

Eric Michelson

James McMichael

Tom Jordan

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. How many consecutive NCAA outdoor track 3 mile/5000 metres championships did Steve Prefontaine win? Hint

He won it his soph year and senior year.

Three

Four

Two

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What fellow runner said this prior to the Olympic 5000 meter final in Munich? "I think it's going to be down to Viren and myself with Prefontaine trying to catch us down". Hint

Emiel Puttemans

Gammoudi

Ian Stewart

Dave Bedford

10. Steve Prefontaine is probably the greatest distance runner America has ever had, and possibly the best we ever will have. Of all the records he set, which one stood throughout the 20th century? Hint

His American 5000 meter record

His 19 and under 5000 meter record

His national high school two mile record

His American 3000 meter record

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Steve Prefontaine was born in Marshfield in 1951, and went to high school in Coos Bay?

Answer: False

He was born in Coos Bay, logging country, and went to high school in Marshfield, where he was coached by the venerable Walt McClure

2. What kind of runners did Steve Prefontaine have no respect for, whatsoever?

Answer: Runners who 'sit and kick', letting everyone else do all the work

Pre hated runners that would do no work, runners that would sit on him and then kick by him.

3. What was Steve Prefontaine's national high school two mile record that he set in 1968?

Answer: 8:41

Pre broke the national high school two mile record of 8:48 by running 8:41 his senior year.

4. Which runners and in what order, beat Steve Prefontaine in the Olympic final of the Munich 1972 5000 meters?

Answer: Viren, Gammoudi, Stewart

Lasse Viren won the 10,000 and 5,000, in both the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Gammoudi placed 2nd in '72, and Stewart passed a staggering Pre for third at the line.

5. What was Steve's main competition in his last race ever, in 1975, right before he was killed in a tragic car accident?

Answer: Frank Shorter

Frank Shorter was closest to Pre in his last race ever at the Hayward Field Restoration Meet.

6. What happened in the 1972 Munich Olympic 5000 meter heats?

Answer: Puttemans won with an Olympic Record

Puttemans won his heat in an Olympic Record time of 13:31.8 beating Pre by 0.8 sec.
The world record at the time (13:16.6) was held by Ron Clarke (Australia), set in July 1966.

7. Who wrote the book 'Pre, the story of America's greatest running legend'?

Answer: Tom Jordan

Tom Jordan compiled an excellent biography of Pre.

8. How many consecutive NCAA outdoor track 3 mile/5000 metres championships did Steve Prefontaine win?

Answer: Four

Pre was the first person ever to do this. No NCAA track athlete was as dominating, in his event, as Pre was.

9. What fellow runner said this prior to the Olympic 5000 meter final in Munich? "I think it's going to be down to Viren and myself with Prefontaine trying to catch us down".

Answer: Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart said those words. Stewart, a star from Great Britain, believed that any other day, Pre or him could've beaten Viren easily, had it been a different type of race.

Answer: His 19 and under 5000 meter record

His 19 and under 5000 meter record stood throughout the century mark. I doubt anyone will break it anytime soon.

Source: Author ldrunner3

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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