Steve Prefontaine, Start of Mile Race, the 11th annual San Francisco Examiner Track and Field Indoor Games, the Cow Palace, Feb 1, 1974
Image by The Happy Rower
The start of the indoor mile race, Pre third from left, the 11th annual San Francisco Examiner Track and Field Indoor Games indoor, the Cow Palace, February 1, 1974, photo stamped: Received Examiner Reference Library Feb 4 1974. Pre is wearing an Oregon jersey even though he was running for the Oregon Track Club–his last race as a Duck was the NCAA cross country championships in November 1973.
Starting lineup, L to R: Mirus Yifter, Len Hilton, Pre, Marty Liquori (in a rare photo wearing a mustache), Fanie van Zijl, unidentified.
Known order of finish in this fast-paced race:
1. Fanie van Zijl (South Africa) 4:01.3
2. Marty Liquori (NYAC) 4:01.7
3. Len Hilton (Pacific Coast Club) 4:01.8
4. Pre (OR TC) 4:02.8
Ethiopian Mirus Yifter (who also ran a 2-mile) and another unidentified runner also competed in this event.
That same meet Frank Shorter was bested in the two mile event by Ethiopian Miruts Yifter. 13,822 watched the 3 hour games, the mile being the key event. Not a good day for US distance runners.
With this victory, van Zijl remained unbeaten in four and half years and in eight American appearances. The South Africans were barred from the 1972 Olympics due to that nation’s apartheit regime. van Zijl is one of the great, unsung, and virtually unremembered distance runners of the 1970s. This photo and the race start photo are the only photos on the internet I’ve ever seen of him in competition.
Pre never had an advantage in the 6-man field. He languished in 4th, 6th, 5th, then fourth the next two laps. Van Zijl raced for the first time against Pre. He grabbed the lead on the 7th lap.
Pre, hounded by some 100 autograph-seekers following his race, spoke of his position, or lack of one: "I didn’t feel part of the race because I could never get position. I should have been more aggressive. I couldn’t get going at the end, but it was a good physical race. I didn’t have it. I was physically drained from the first half mile and one time I almost landed on the infield. I wanted to get out and follow the guy and set the pace, but as usual in indoor races, I didn’t run the type of race I wanted. I guess that’s what I get for challenging someone at their own race. It seemed like the other guys had it all planned out very well because I couldn’t get the position that I wanted. With three laps to go, I thought I had a chance, but I was tired from the first part of the race," Pre said.
Pre said he planned on going to South Africa the following Summer, where he would likely have a chance to meet Van Zijl once again. "If he wants to step up to my race, I’ll present him with all kinds of problems." Pre stated. "What I did tonight is like asking a running back to change and be a lineman. But I’m not afraid to lose and I don’t like running like I did last week when I lapped everybody in the field. Sometimes it’s good to get the hell kicked out of you."
This is a great photo that harkens back to a less regimented, more intimate time for sports fans and athletes. I love the fact that the spectators are sitting with their feet resting on the oval track boundary line. You can’t be more a part of the race than that! Not only do you get a micro view of the race, you can smell them, hear them, and even get hit with their sweat!
