Is Galen Rupp Oregons Best Distance Runner Since Steve Prefontaine?
Actually, that’s quite a question, considering that would vault Rupp ahead of Alberto Salazar, Rudy Chapa, and Matt Centrowitz (the father, not Rupp’s teammate) on the University of Oregon pecking order. But the answer would seem to be “yes.” In the 2008-2009 academic year, Rupp, a 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter runner, earned the NCAA Cross Country title, then won the 3000 and 5000 at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and then added NCAA 5000 and 10,000-meter victories outdoors, and he helped the Ducks become national team champs in cross country and indoor track. Plus, he set a pending U.S. indoor 5000 record of 13:18.12. And he seems to have enjoyed nothing as much as being a member of a close-knit college team. Rupp, like his teammate Andrew Wheating – and Meb Keflezighi and so many other long distance standouts – played soccer before he became a runner. Coaches need to keep scouting those soccer fields for running talent. More Chelsey Sveinsson and Trevor Dunbar Win 2-Mile Races at Nike O
