Record number of runners turn out for the Pre

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Story Published: Sep 22, 2008 at 3:05 PM PST

By Erica Rush

Coos Bay- In what feels like the year of Pre after the successful Track and Field Trials in Eugene this summer, the winner of this years Prefontaine Memorial Run was another hometown boy.

More than 1,000 people ran in 29th Annual Prefontaine Memorial Run on Saturday. Athletes from all over came to run the 10k route. Some in teams, some in costumes, but all for the memory of Steve Prefontaine. Pre held every American record from 2 miles to 10,000 meters when he was killed in a car accident in 1975.

In what looked like a flash from the past, former Marshfield student, Jarred Basset was the first to finish the race, coming in at 32:28.

"It's always been my dream to win this race. When I was in high school, I just thought it would be awesome to come in on the track first, with all your friends and family cheering you on. It's a really good feeling," Said Basset

In honor of Pre's bond with Finland, the Memorial Run also had an exchange with the Country. This was the last year for that exchange, but one runner was making sure Finland left their mark, as the first female to cross the finish line.

Minna Kainlaury said, "It was amazing because I was first in Lasse Viren, and then I won the whole race and come here now, so it's nice, very nice."

Awards were later handed out to the top five male and female finishers. The Kids Pre followed on Sunday.

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