Latest news with #BrendanOMeara
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Steve Prefontaine biography reveals man behind mythic distance runner
Steve Prefontaine (1005) of the United States leads Lasse Viren of Finland (228) and Emiel Puttemans of Belgium (61) during the men's 5,000 metres event at the Munich Olympics in 1972. (Getty Images - image credit) The late American distance runner Steve Prefontaine never won an Olympic medal, a world championship, or even held a world record. Yet, half a century after his untimely death in a car wreck at the age of 24, "Pre," as he came to be known, remains an iconic, almost saint-like figure, of track and field. Many would argue that Prefontaine is regarded as the most charismatic runner of all-time, often credited with igniting the worldwide running boom of the 1970's, not to mention being the first face of the multi-billion dollar Nike brand of athletic gear. Advertisement In a new biography, "The Front Runner - The Life of Steve Prefontaine," author Brendan O'Meara re-examines his legacy on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the international athletics gathering that bears his name. This year's "Pre Classic" at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., will feature more than 20 Olympic gold medallists and countless world champions. It is one of, if not the most, star-studded fields in the history of professional track and field outside an Olympic Games. O'Meara suggests that, in many ways, the annual pilgrimage of these outstanding, runners, jumpers, and throwers from every corner of the world, to a small, university city in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is one of Prefontaine's greatest contributions to the sport. A local hero from the coastal logging town of Coos Bay, Prefontaine once held every American record from 2,000 to 10,000 metres. And he set many of those records and won most of his important races at the University of Oregon's fabled track at Hayward Field. He was idolized as a child prodigy from a rough and tumble background who was outspoken and had the audacity to take on the best in the world while defying them to race flat out instead of languishing in the rear and concocting last-minute, or contrived, victories. Advertisement He was, as O'Meara explains, the quintessential front runner from an athletic perspective. (Amazon) In the biggest race Prefontaine ever took on, the Olympic 5,000m final at the 1972 Munich Games, he was by far the smallest and youngest contestant in the field. And yet, the confident and brash American was undaunted, leading into the final lap while duelling magnificently with the likes of the statuesque Finn, Lasse Viren, who eventually won the gold medal, and 1968 Olympic champion Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia who claimed silver. Prefontaine, totally spent, ran out of gas over the last few metres and was narrowly beaten for the bronze medal by Great Britain's hard charging Ian Stewart. Distraught, Prefontaine bowed his head, removed his spikes, and walked barefoot off the track in front of the astonished fans in the jam-packed stadium. Advertisement For many people of a certain generation, it was a vivid and lasting first recollection of the crucible of Olympic competition. Prefontaine was the upstart kid with the flowing blond hair who came so close to knocking off the Goliaths from afar. He presented the teasing promise of the thrill of victory which gave way to the reality of a fourth-place finish and the agony of defeat. O'Meara chronicles Prefontaine's life based on more than 150 interviews with teammates, friends, and rivals who knew the enigmatic high school and collegiate phenom. And while there is a certain mythology surrounding "Pre" and his faithful followers known as "Pre's People," O'Meara gives his subject a human quality which is more decipherable. Referring to him as "Steve" throughout, the author discovers that behind the bravado was a sensitive young man who was most comfortable in familiar surroundings and often wrestled with self–doubt. Moreover, Prefontaine is portrayed as less of a philosopher king and more likely driven by a simpler set of principles — he wanted to run hard and fast and compete against the best in the world on his own terms, not to mention his home turf. Advertisement WATCH | Oregon's iconic Hayward Field: There are also stories of Prefontaine being a practical joker, a wild and crazy driver of sports cars, and a prodigious guzzler of beer. The way O'Meara tells it, Prefontaine revelled in the attention of his fans, but he might have foregone future fame and fortune for a more modest life, which included owning and operating his dream bar called "The Sub Four," in reference to his achievement of running a sub four-minute mile. In fact, Prefontaine did resist offers of lucrative contracts from the blossoming professional International Track Association (ITA), choosing instead to protect his amateur status and pursue his dream of winning an Olympic title in Montreal in 1976 against the best competition from around the world. While it is true, as O'Meara acknowledges, that Prefontaine fought for athlete self-determination and freedom from the restrictive bonds of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), he did it not out of a desire for personal financial gain but instead to have the opportunity to race against the premier athletes in the sport at the most opportune times. Advertisement In this sense, Prefontaine was not only a front runner he was a forerunner in a world where athletes would eventually have greater control over their own destinies. In short "Pre" was an idealist who was well ahead of his time. His death came after midnight on May 30,1975 following the final track meet in Eugene of what was known as "The Finn Tour." It was an invitational series of events run on a shoestring budget that Prefontaine envisioned and organized. It gave the hometown hero a chance to take on world-class, European rivals before his faithful supporters. He won that last race over 5,000 metres at Hayward Field, serving notice to the local fans that the possibilities were endless for this young man who hailed from their own backyard and that the gold medal at the Montreal Olympics was most certainly within reach. At the end of the telling of Prefontaine's story, the author concludes that his subject was uncompromising in his self belief while reflecting the hopes and aspirations of his many disciples. Advertisement "Steve would often express, especially as his career began to take off, how running was a means of personal discovery," O'Meara writes in the last paragraphs. "As he broke the tape, the people roared once more, and the shadows lengthened over the track. Steve aglow by the setting of the sun." In the final analysis, "The Front Runner," is a testament to the enduring appeal of an athlete who believed mightily in the purity of maximum effort.
CBC
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
New Steve Prefontaine biography reveals man behind mythic distance runner
Social Sharing The late American distance runner Steve Prefontaine never won an Olympic medal, a world championship, or even held a world record. Yet, half a century after his untimely death in a car wreck at the age of 24, "Pre," as he came to be known, remains an iconic, almost saint-like figure, of track and field. Many would argue that Prefontaine is regarded as the most charismatic runner of all-time, often credited with igniting the worldwide running boom of the 1970's, not to mention being the first face of the multi-billion dollar Nike brand of athletic gear. In a new biography, "The Front Runner - The Life of Steve Prefontaine," author Brendan O'Meara re-examines his legacy on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the international athletics gathering that bears his name. This year's "Pre Classic" at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., will feature more than 20 Olympic gold medallists and countless world champions. It is one of, if not the most, star-studded fields in the history of professional track and field outside an Olympic Games. O'Meara suggests that, in many ways, the annual pilgrimage of these outstanding, runners, jumpers, and throwers from every corner of the world, to a small, university city in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is one of Prefontaine's greatest contributions to the sport. A local hero from the coastal logging town of Coos Bay, Prefontaine once held every American record from 2,000 to 10,000 metres. And he set many of those records and won most of his important races at the University of Oregon's fabled track at Hayward Field. He was idolized as a child prodigy from a rough and tumble background who was outspoken and had the audacity to take on the best in the world while defying them to race flat out instead of languishing in the rear and concocting last-minute, or contrived, victories. He was, as O'Meara explains, the quintessential front runner from an athletic perspective. In the biggest race Prefontaine ever took on, the Olympic 5,000m final at the 1972 Munich Games, he was by far the smallest and youngest contestant in the field. And yet, the confident and brash American was undaunted, leading into the final lap while duelling magnificently with the likes of the statuesque Finn, Lasse Viren, who eventually won the gold medal, and 1968 Olympic champion Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia who claimed silver. Prefontaine, totally spent, ran out of gas over the last few metres and was narrowly beaten for the bronze medal by Great Britain's hard charging Ian Stewart. Distraught, Prefontaine bowed his head, removed his spikes, and walked barefoot off the track in front of the astonished fans in the jam-packed stadium. For many people of a certain generation, it was a vivid and lasting first recollection of the crucible of Olympic competition. Prefontaine was the upstart kid with the flowing blond hair who came so close to knocking off the Goliaths from afar. He presented the teasing promise of the thrill of victory which gave way to the reality of a fourth-place finish and the agony of defeat. O'Meara chronicles Prefontaine's life based on more than 150 interviews with teammates, friends, and rivals who knew the enigmatic high school and collegiate phenom. And while there is a certain mythology surrounding "Pre" and his faithful followers known as "Pre's People," O'Meara gives his subject a human quality which is more decipherable. Referring to him as "Steve" throughout, the author discovers that behind the bravado was a sensitive young man who was most comfortable in familiar surroundings and often wrestled with self–doubt. Moreover, Prefontaine is portrayed as less of a philosopher king and more likely driven by a simpler set of principles — he wanted to run hard and fast and compete against the best in the world on his own terms, not to mention his home turf. WATCH | Oregon's iconic Hayward Field: Oregon's iconic Hayward Field home of the 2022 World Athletics Championships 3 years ago Duration 10:54 There are also stories of Prefontaine being a practical joker, a wild and crazy driver of sports cars, and a prodigious guzzler of beer. The way O'Meara tells it, Prefontaine revelled in the attention of his fans, but he might have foregone future fame and fortune for a more modest life, which included owning and operating his dream bar called "The Sub Four," in reference to his achievement of running a sub four-minute mile. In fact, Prefontaine did resist offers of lucrative contracts from the blossoming professional International Track Association (ITA), choosing instead to protect his amateur status and pursue his dream of winning an Olympic title in Montreal in 1976 against the best competition from around the world. While it is true, as O'Meara acknowledges, that Prefontaine fought for athlete self-determination and freedom from the restrictive bonds of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), he did it not out of a desire for personal financial gain but instead to have the opportunity to race against the premier athletes in the sport at the most opportune times. In this sense, Prefontaine was not only a front runner he was a forerunner in a world where athletes would eventually have greater control over their own destinies. In short "Pre" was an idealist who was well ahead of his time. His death came after midnight on May 30,1975 following the final track meet in Eugene of what was known as "The Finn Tour." It was an invitational series of events run on a shoestring budget that Prefontaine envisioned and organized. It gave the hometown hero a chance to take on world-class, European rivals before his faithful supporters. He won that last race over 5,000 metres at Hayward Field, serving notice to the local fans that the possibilities were endless for this young man who hailed from their own backyard and that the gold medal at the Montreal Olympics was most certainly within reach. At the end of the telling of Prefontaine's story, the author concludes that his subject was uncompromising in his self belief while reflecting the hopes and aspirations of his many disciples. "Steve would often express, especially as his career began to take off, how running was a means of personal discovery," O'Meara writes in the last paragraphs. "As he broke the tape, the people roared once more, and the shadows lengthened over the track. Steve aglow by the setting of the sun."
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Ryanair pilot charged with €10m drug seizure not a 'sutable case' for legal aid, court hears
A former Ryanair pilot, charged in connection with the possession of more than €10m worth of drugs, is not a suitable case for legal aid, a court was told on Wednesday. At Ennis District Court, Brendan O'Meara (62) of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his second court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of an estimated €10 million of cannabis at Mr O'Meara's south east Clare home last week. Advertisement Mr O'Meara was today appearing in court via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O'Meara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday afternoon following Garda objections. From his prison booth, Mr O'Meara spoke only once when he said 'Brendan O'Meara' when asked to state his name for the court. Solicitor, Țara Godfrey, told the court that she is acting as agent for solicitor, Sarah Ryan, who should be on record for Mr O'Meara. Judge Alec Gabbett said that he would assign legal aid to Ms Ryan to represent Mr O'Meara, but Ms Godfrey said: 'No, it would not be a suitable case for that.' Advertisement Judge Gabbett said: 'This is a very recent remand from Saturday. Are there directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)?' In reply, Sgt John Burke said that there are no directions yet available from the DPP, but a cert from Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) would first be required in relation to the alleged drugs. Ms Godfrey said that she was instructed to consent to a two-week adjournment in the case, and Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr O'Meara in custody to re-appear in court via video link on May 28th. Mr O'Meara faces two charges - possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis, on May 7th. Advertisement At the contested bail hearing on Saturday, Gardaí told the court Mr O'Meara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where Gardaí seized an estimated 502kg of cannabis. Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs. He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardaí believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. He claimed Mr O'Meara was also a flight risk, due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilot's licenses, and has links to the USA. Advertisement Applying for bail on Saturday, Ms Godfrey said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and an EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', and he would 'hand over' his licences to the State and not leave the country. 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. The solicitor said Mr O'Meara had obtained a Green Card to live and work in the US, and that he was planning on 'going to America to his brother who has Parkinson's'. Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Meara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Meara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country'. 'He has significant ties here, his wife is in court, his wife's sister is in court, his sister is in court, and his (other) sister passed away six weeks ago'. She said, 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Ryanair pilot charged over 10m euros cannabis seizure
A former Ryanair pilot has appeared in court in the Republic of Ireland charged in connection with the seizure of more than 10m euros (£8.5m) worth of herbal cannabis. Brendan O'Meara, 62, with an address at An Tulach, Summer Hill, Meelick, County Clare, appeared before a special sitting of the district court in Ennis on Saturday. He is charged with possession of a controlled drug, and possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply, at the address above on 7 May. An application for bail was refused. The court heard Mr O'Meara made no reply when he was arrested, charged and cautioned. A solicitor for Mr O'Meara said they would be applying for bail but gardaí (Irish police) said they would be objecting to it on the basis that they believed that Mr O'Meara was a "high flight risk". A police officer told Judge Marie Keane that further, more serious charges are likely to follow. The judge refused bail due to the State's concerns that the accused is a serious flight risk, and that more serious charges are likely to be made. Mr O'Meara was remanded back into custody to appear again in court via video-link on 14 May.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- BBC News
Former Ryanair pilot charged over 10m euros cannabis seizure
A former Ryanair pilot has appeared in court in the Republic of Ireland charged in connection with the seizure of more than 10m euros (£8.5m) worth of herbal cannabis. Brendan O'Meara, 62, with an address at An Tulach, Summer Hill, Meelick, County Clare, appeared before a special sitting of the district court in Ennis on is charged with possession of a controlled drug, and possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply, at the address above on 7 application for bail was refused. 'High flight risk' The court heard Mr O'Meara made no reply when he was arrested, charged and cautioned.A solicitor for Mr O'Meara said they would be applying for bail but gardaí (Irish police) said they would be objecting to it on the basis that they believed that Mr O'Meara was a "high flight risk".A police officer told Judge Marie Keane that further, more serious charges are likely to judge refused bail due to the State's concerns that the accused is a serious flight risk, and that more serious charges are likely to be O'Meara was remanded back into custody to appear again in court via video-link on 14 May.
