Mac ‘a little peeved’ at media snub, but mostly, it was ‘Go for it, Pre!’

Mac Wilkins today looks younger than his 71 years. He carries 220 pounds on his 6-4 frame, down 30 to 40 pounds from his peak as an Olympic athlete (courtesy Mac Wilkins)

Prior to the World Track & Field Championships at Eugene, I wrote this article on the greatest thrower in the state’s history, four-time Olympian and 1976 Olympic discus champion Mac Wilkins.

Shortly thereafter, I received this letter from a man named Bruce Hake:

Great article. Thanks, Kerry. I’d like to offer my “Mac Wilkins” story, for what it’s worth:

In May of 1969 I competed in the discus at the Oregon High School State Championships in Corvallis. It was held at the old Bell Field cinder track, with the discus ring on the infield. I was a junior at Lebanon and Mac was a senior from Beaverton. Mac was the state champion and I placed third.

What I remember, though, was that during the competition out in the middle of the field, all of a sudden the mile run was announced, and onto the track stepped that kid from Marshfield, Steve Prefontaine. And he took off. I got a bit distracted watching him running and winning the race by a wide margin. It was a thrilling sight to behold, and the crowd pretty much went wild, all while we were throwing.

The great Steve Prefontaine

In the books at Pre, and the two films made based upon the books, there was something made about how Mac always felt upstaged by Pre. I could be wrong, but I always wondered whether this might have been the first of several instances where Steve Prefontaine stole the show from Mac.

It’s been a memory that has stuck with me.

Best wishes to Mac, and yes, it would be great for him to be at Hayward Field, though I do understand the situation concerning Covid.

One more thought: I’ve recently been watching many of Mac’s instructional videos online, and I can’t help but wonder what might have been if I had been privy to his instruction back then. We really had no coaching in the throws events. For me, it was just watching my upperclass teammate and a looping 16-mm film clip of Jay Silvester.

This week, I received this response from Mac Wilkins, who unfortunately, did not make it to Eugene, though he watched much of the event on TV:

I’m catching up from the Worlds in Eugene — unbelievable performances.

My comments on Bruce's observation...

I kind of noticed the hubbub around Pre at the 1969 state meet, but not really.

The idea that I was pissed at Pre for being “world famous” is pretty silly. What, I don't want him to run so fast?

I was state champ, but a very average high school thrower. He made the U.S. national team the summer he graduated from high school in an event that favors older men. That is nuts!

Go for it, Pre!

We are all on the same bus, just not all at the same level.

I was a little peeved after college when our performances were relatively the same internationally and the local media didn't seem to see it. That was my private little snit.

But I didn't go around putting Pre down or complaining about my lack of notice. That would be a fool's battle.

We were friends and I respected what he accomplished.

In 1993, I was asked to speak at the Hayward Awards for a high school team award, “The Prefontaine Award.’ Putting my thoughts together, it occurred to me for the first time that Pre and I were so similar.

My personality and sports focus evolved a perspective similar to his, that of a serious, professional athlete in 1975, and I reaped the rewards in 1976. His precocious focus was slightly obnoxious at times, but he WAS FOCUSED.

That was the point. Decisions were easy for Pre because training clearly came first. The rest of us were not as mature athletically. 

And about that shot put...

Oregon22 had many exceptional performances, but few were also exceptionally competitive. Most were a “one-person show.” My attention was captured by the men’s shot put with its exceptional performances and exceptional competitiveness. Too often, the careers of top athletes intersect as one is going up and the other is on the downside of their career. The “what if?” question comes up that can never be answered. “What if they competed against other at their peaks?”

For our enjoyment, the careers of Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs parallel each other and are peaking at the same time.

They are lucky to have each other. A goal is not as valuable if you don’t have to fight for it. In round two, Ryan passed Joe for the lead. In round five, Joe passed Ryan. But Ryan was the next thrower up and took the lead and the win with his effort.

They are the frosting on each other’s cake. Neither would be throwing as well as they have without being pushed by the other. In the end, only five centimeters — two inches — separated them.

Thank you, Joe and Ryan.

We are lucky to have the two of you “helping” each other.

And how about (bronze medalist) Josh Awotunde? Three of his throws exceeded his previous career best. Three life records! Can’t beat that with a stick.

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