PORTLAND, Ore. — University of Oregon's Hayward Field has been a home to track and field legends for decades. But, few runners got the crowd as excited as Rudy Chapa.
The six-time All-American was one of the best distance runners ever at the university. His speed brought him out west to Eugene after growing up in Indiana as a son of Mexican immigrants.
Chapa trained under legendary coach Bill Dellinger and was a member of the UO cross-country team that won the national title in 1977.
Individually, Chapa won the 5000-meter race at the NCAA Championships in 1978. A year later, he broke Steve Prefontaine's U.S. record in the 3000-meter race — solidifying his legacy in the records books.
A foot injury ended Chapa's running career during his senior year. After college, he went on to earn a law degree and work for Nike. Years later, he started his own sports marketing firm in Portland.
In 1999, Chapa was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
KGW's Breaking Barriers series features Oregonians making a difference in the world of sports, arts, government, business and more. You'll see stories for Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15.