Francisco Lázaro....1912

(click to enlarge)....what a beautiful photo

Steve Prefontaine 1951-1975

 Eugene, Hayward Field, May 29, 1975, the final race on the final day

Frank Shorter and Steve Prefontaine making an attempt to break the American record in the 5000m. Both runners had a huge influence on the emerging running boom of the 1970`s (and that never faded away !). They were at the time at the forefront of fighting to change the amateur rules that prevented top-class athletes from making a decent living out of their sports. Prefontaine embodied the true joy of running and, on the track, he was a completely fearless athlete. A few hours later, his life came to an end in a car accident. This was his last sunset....51 years ago. 

The 1972 Munich Olympic Games, 5000 meters final with Prefontaine finishing in fourth place.

Slottsskogsvallen....

Göteborgs Varvet....

No Kenyans in this year's race and what was the reason (??). But great atmosphere anyway.

World Masters Athletics Championships 2024....

..great atmosphere and competitions

..and some dreadful weather 😏

A great week from München....

A theater for Track & Field....

Hayward Field, University of Oregon, 2020, by Eric Wilcox and David Webb (and a group of talented designers).

Stadium....

Track....

Not the fastest....

Christophe Lemaitre of France

..but the coolest !

What is the probability....

Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, 400m hurdles

 

..of winning Olympic Gold (2004 and 2012) in the same event, exactly eight years in between (6th Aug.).... and with the same winning time (47.63)  ??

Slottsskogsvallen, Lars Israel Wahlman, 1923

Built for the 1923 Göteborg Exposition, and ornamented with classical empire elements (click the pictures to enlarge)

.

In this stadium, Arne Andersson and Gunder Hägg had some of their fights for the world record in the English mile, during the year of 1942.

In 1975, John Walker broke the world record and was the first human to run a mile under 3:50 (3:49.4).

And of course....Patrik Sjöberg trained here for many years, and became one of the best high-jumpers ever.