Prefontaine Memorial Run

Prefontaine Memorial Run: Crusader Student-Athletes Get History Lesson

On Saturday, the Crusader Harriers made their annual pilgrimage to Coos Bay to race the Prefontaine Memorial Run, and ended up gaining some valuable lessons.

Coach Volk has been bringing his cross country runners to this race since 1989, so this crop of Crusader Harriers, in becoming another thread in the tapestry of memorable teams, established some very memorable moments.

The Prefontaine Memorial Run is not a typical cross country meet, but a community event, much like Medford's Pear Blossom Run, but where 23 high schools' boys and girls (307 total) compete alongside each other over the 5km course navigating the streets and hills of Coos Bay and running on a course that, in addition to being on a course he used to train on, it finishes going right past the  childhood home of legendary Oregon runner, Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975), concluding on the Marshfield High School track named in his honor. This year marked the 50th anniversary of Steve's untimely passing, and Steve's sister, Linda, and other race organizers wanted to make sure that this year's edition was special.

While this year's Pre was the fourth time senior Natalie Hung would run this race, it was the Pre debut for: Jack Peterson, Rye Cooley, Jude Kuntz, and Liz McGill. Both veterans and newcomers alike used the cool temperature and festive atmosphere to run lifetime (Jack, Harry, Brady, Jude, Rye and Liz) or seasonal (Dawson, Kweli, Jake, Esther, and Anna) best times.

In addition to the memories created with the fast times, the Crusaders also got the opportunity to learn some other lessons. Along with the prerequisite viewing of the documentary, Fire on the Track, St. Mary's student-athletes learned some first-hand lessons about the history of their sport. In addition to meeting Steve's sister, Linda, they also met: Thomas Valles (McFarland); Jordan Geller (Nike Shoezeum); Joan Hansen (US Olympian and record holder); and Jacqueline Hansen (marathon WR holder, women's running advocate, and author). Along with running history lessons, they also learned a bit of geography. 

One of the schools competing at the race was Tauranga Boy's College, a prestigious academy from New Zealand, who exemplified the saying, “Kiwis can fly!” The Tauranga boys won individual and team honors. Our team became quite the ambassadors exchanging StM apparel for a NZ team kit. 

All in all, the day was a wonderful reminder about the significance of sport and the connections established between the years among runners.