Steve Prefontaine is one of the most well known runners of all time. He lived in the small town of Coos Bay Oregon. Steve Prefontaine started his running career at Marshfield High School. In his senior year of high school he set the American record for the 2 mile.

      Steve Prefontaine ran for the University of Oregon. He was coached by the legendary Bill Bowerman. During his collage experience he won 7 NCAA titles, 3 in cross country and 4 in the 5,000 meters in track.

         Steve continued his running career and made the 1972 Olympic team in the 5,000 meter run. In the race he had the lead until the very end, but he ended up with a 4^th. During Steve Prefontaine's career he broke his own and many others records and outstanding 14 times.

  Steve Prefontaine died on May 30, 1975; driving home from a track meet that he set an American record in earlier that day. Steve was only 24 years old. Steve will always be remembered for all his amazing accomplishments in long distance running.

     Kenenisa Bekele is known as a long distance prodigy. His first major success was at the 2002 world cross country championship in Dublin where he became the first man to run long and short distance. Kenenisa Bekele ran the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the 2004 Olympics.

     Ryan Hall holds the American Record in the half marathon (13.1 miles). He ran the race in 59min 43 sec, beating the existing time by 12 sec. The previous record had been made 22 years ago, almost as old as Ryan himself. Ryan attended Stanford University where he specialized in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.