Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontaine once held every American record from the two-mile to the 10,000 meter. He has often been called the greatest American distance runner in history, all because “ Steve Prefontaine did the impossible: He made distance running cool to Americans” (Murphy 203). Steve Prefontaine depicted the embodiment of hard work, determination, and he trained hard every day in an effort to pave the way for other amateur athletes.
Steve was born to Ray and Elfriede Prefontaine on January 25, 1951, in Coos Bay, Oregon, “Ray Prefontaine had returned from serving with the U.S. Army occupation forces in Germany with his new bride, Elfriede”(Jordan 5). Pre’s life was not as hard as you would imagine. He was raised in a middle-class family in a small town. Pre worked a couple of jobs while balancing out training and school, “Besides the four to eight miles a day, Steve’s enormous energy was spread among three part-time jobs; working as a gas jockey at a Phillips 66 station, as a water- safety instructor and as a policy evaluator for a local insurance company” (8).
Pre started off as a football player, but due to his small size, he did not get much
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“Steve Prefontaine became Nike’s first endorser when knight and Bowerman agreed to pay for his training if he wore their shoes and shorts”(Frisch 18). He was chosen because he was the most recognizable runner at the time, “With his wild, flowing hair, he cut a unique image, and he ran with a rare passion and determination, pushing through pain and fatigue that would have stopped most runners”(18). Pre’s career was also full of many awards and records. Pre was the first athlete to win four consecutive NCAA championships in the same event, as well as going 21 straight college meets undefeated, undefeated after his freshman year of college, and an unbeaten career in the dual meet, all culminating in his call-up to the U.S. Olympic
“It was the best, worst thing to happen to me.” claims Ian Keith Tyson of his military career. Mr. Tyson is a veteran Marine who served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom (later renamed Operation New Dawn) and the war in Afghanistan from the years 2009-2011. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 31st,1985, he eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 24. After interviewing with each individual branch, he decided that the Marines simply fit. This was a decision that would permanently alter his life, for the better.
In the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, young Louie Zamperini is the troublemaker of Torrance, California. After his life had taken a mischievous turn, his older brother, Pete, managed to convert his love of running away, into a passion for running on the track. At first, Louie’s old habit of smoking gets the best of him, and it is very hard for him to compare to the other track athletes. After a few months of training, coached by Pete, Louie begins to break high school records, and became the fastest high school miler in 1934. After much more hard work, goes to the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 but is no match for the Finnish runners. He trains hard for the next Olympic Games, and hopes to beat the four minute
This book is about a twelve-year-old boy named Nick Hall. Nick Hall loves to play soccer, but he can only play if he reads his dad’s dictionary which he thinks is boring. Nick Hall has a best friend Coby Lee. Coby and Nick have been friends almost their whole life, they also have always been on the same soccer team accept this year. Nick also takes dance clubs with the girl he likes named April who also goes to his school. So far Nick’s life is going well, The only bad thing in Nick’s life is that he gets bullied by these twins named Dean and Don, but they soon get expelled from school so he doesn’t have to see them every day now. So now Nick’s is going even better until one day Nick’s parents announce that they’re getting a divorce because
Serpico (1973) is a movie that reveals the true story of Frank Serpico who was the only honest cop in the New York police sector at his time. The film shows the realistic view of the corruption that was evidenced in the New York police and highlights the character of Frank as being honest and courageous. Although he started as an inexperienced cop, he later worked as an undercover officer and was determined to bust all the criminal activities especially the drug dealers and pushers. Unlike the other cops, Serpico refused to take any bribes from the wrongdoers. More so, he felt that the other officers were doing wrong by accepting bribes and wanted to expose the situation. The other officers were so corrupt that they collected more money through bribes than the salary they earned, a situation that did not please Serpico. His strong stand concerning corruption made his friends turn against him, placing his life in danger. The anti-corruption efforts of Serpico jeopardized his life at the hands of his colleagues. He was later transferred to the Narcotics Squad where he was shot by a drug dealer after his partners betrayed him by failing to support him. The cop was then rushed to hospital. The shooting made Frank deaf since it affected the brain, rendering
Sam Gilliam is was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on November 30, 1933. He served in the United States Army for two years. He received his education from University of Louisville and is a world renowned color artist. Morris Louis and Ken Noland’s works of art had a huge impact on Sam Gilliam and his works. Gilliam taught in Louisville publics schools and many art colleges. He is known for his colorful and unique art. He was one of the first artists to not frame his art work instead he would just paint on a bare canvas or drapes. His art style is very modern and loud. When someone looks at his works of art they have instant imagination and questions. Gilliam leaves his works of art up for interpretation, there is no solid meaning to them. Anyone can make see whatever they want, his art allows for freedom and Ray II is no different.
The Metamorphosis of Johnny Tremain Johnny Tremain is like a butterfly; he went through a transformation. Johnny Tremain is a book by Esther Forbes about a crippled boy during the American Revolution and the events he endures. Johnny Tremain was a very dynamic character because people and events affected him. People change main characters in many books. Johnny Tremain is no exception.
Hunt, J. (2011). We Can Raise American Distance Runners To Gold Medal Levels. Track Coach, (196), 6239-6247.
During his high school years, he dominated the track-and-field sport, which was the only sport he was allowed to do. Ray was so good that he even tried out for the 1928 Olympics as a 400meter runner. He came in fourth place, making it into Canada’s team. He didn’t get to compete, however, as a white runner was favoured the place. That didn’t stop him from going to university, and he went to the Milwaukee’s Marquette University in Wisconsin, USA. There, he was able to keep running as part of the Central Relay Team that won the United States National Schoolboy Championships in 1928 and 1929. From there, he was able to be the National Track and Field Champion in 1929. After his university education, he had to go back to Canada to become a porter.
Its not quite easy to be a successful track runner. You have to be devoted enough to observe your eating habits, be able to weightlift, and constantly practice plyometric drills. Plyometrics are exercises used to strengthen leg muscles; which can include regular
It is evident that Jesse Owens proved to the world what no one at the time believed could be achieved. At a time when Blacks were not equal, there was no appreciation possible in the eyes of the Americans until the civil rights movement following after the cold war. Jesse Owens dealt with much more than any African American could ever imagine. Regardless of his immense achievements, Owens did not receive recognition for such important winnings until several years after the 1936 Olympics. Despite the hate that Owens received, he was able to surpass such negativity by being involved in other organizations and through this, Owens was victorious not only on the track but also as normal human being.
On top of running with his athletes he has competed in numerous running events such as the monument 10k, the Henrico festival dash, Suffolk celebration community 5K run/1 mile walk, and the New Year's Day Resolution 10-K, 5-K, or 1-mile trail run. He runs these events to either help for the cause for example donating to the poor, people with cancer, or people with diseases or he just runs just to have fun. Even at 36 years old he is still competing at track meets just recently he just finished competing at the real deal track and field classic at Boo Williams in Suffolk Virginia. He ran the 200-meter dash and he gathered his all-American team from 1999 and ran the four by 200-meter relay one last time. They all had fun reuniting with each other to run again and they won the adult section of the four by 200-meter relay even if they all ran as slow as a week in jail. After he finishes his running he always comes back to the school to help fundraise for the track and field team.
The concept of a two-sport or multi-sport athlete enormously filters the list of great athletes throughout history and, if used as a measuring rod, leaves us with the best of all time: Bo Jackson. “Bo Jackson is not known in Spain, despite starring in Bo Knows Nike brand campaign that remains today, the most successful of the multinational” (Williams). “In these famous ads, which have Jackson first playing football and baseball, two sports that are professional, he then tries his luck at basketball with Michael Jordan, tennis with John McEnroe, ice hockey with Wayne Gretzky and track and field with Sea and Decker” (Williams). The first ad was so successful that Nike decided to produce more ads featuring Bo Jackson as the “all-star athlete”. These new ads featured him playing and participating in cycling, football with Welshman Ian Rush, who are professional athletes, cricket, surfing, weightlifting, and horse riding. Nike used Bo Jackson’s athletic abilities to form a gold mine “The first athlete in history to be selected as an All Star in two different sports” (Askew). Bo Jackson’s work as America’s greatest athlete of all time shows him to be a representative of American culture because he changed both the American past times of baseball and football, he helps Alabamians with fundraisers that benefit tornado victims, he represents American strength along with persistence, and he set a new height to sports that still haven’t been achieved today by any other athlete. According to Martin:
This book starts in the pre-revolutionary time. At the beginning of the book, Johnny Tremain, is working as an apprentice to Mr. Lapham. Mr. Lapham is a blacksmith. Johnny’s parents died in a fire several years before, and this is why he lived with the Laphams. He worked there with enthusiasm for several years until he hurt his arm, scolding it in hot metal. After the accident, Mr. Lapham told Johnny that he needs to find a different profession, but he can stay with the laphams.
Usain Bolt was born in Jamaica August 21, 1986 with a severe spinal condition. Even then he didn’t let that hold him back. As he was he was growing up he started become an all-around athlete that excelled in every sport but had a particular interest in badminton. He had always been exceedingly exceptional at running and participated many youth tournaments but until one of his coaches took him under his wing and began to train him he began to thrive in the event. It was then that his actual success began but that is also when the critics came as well. In Jamaica sprinting is a very serious sport and not without a reason many Jamaican sprinters have gotten at least one medal in the careers and many of them broke world records. At the time Usain Bolt became part of the Jamaican track and field team he had a lot track stars that h...
Running may be one of the oldest and most developed sports out there. According to legend, the first marathon was run unintentionally in 490 B.C. by a Greek Soldier(James). The soldier ran twenty-five miles to Athens to announce battleground victory over the persians then dropped dead(James). In 1896 the marathon was included in the Olympic games, in Greece, for the first time(James). It was there that the first gold was won by a Greek runner with a time of two hours fifty-eight minutes and fifty seconds(James). The current world record for the fastest finish is two hours three minutes and fifty-nine seconds(James). Marathoning has turned into a world wide activity and every person who participates must endure intense training.