My UO Freshman Year

Steve Bence: 1971 Zaragoza HS, Spain Senior Year (left) ... 1972 UO Freshman Year (right)

In June 1971 I graduated from Zaragoza American High School in Spain as an 800 meter runner. Three months later I arrived at the University of Oregon to start my college career with Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger who coached a very talented group of teammates which included a soon-to-be friend, Steve Prefontaine

Below is a short story, including workouts, of how I went from a 1:55 high school half-miler to a 1:47.7 all-American during my UO freshman year.