(December 1, 1943 – May 4, 2022) Kenny Moore has been one of the great story tellers of American sport for decades.
As an athlete, he found himself right in the middle of some of those great stories while putting his own stamp on running and track and field greatness.
He was known as ‘Ken’ Moore when he graduated North Eugene high school and arrived at the University of Oregon. He would letter three years each in track and cross country.
Always a versatile distance runner, Ken was a three time All-American on the track, with three more top national finishes in the 3-mile, 5,000 meters and the steeplechase. Moore was a 1963 cross country All-American and was part of back-to-back teams that finished 2nd in the nation.
As a post-collegiate racer, he flexed his muscle at greater distances, winning the 1967 US Cross Country Championship and dominating the demanding Bay to Breakers road race in San Francisco. Ken won the 12K monster six consecutive years from 1968-1973.
In 1970, Moore placed second in the prestigious Fukuoka International Marathon with a loop-course American record and personal best time of 2:11.36.
Moore competed on the biggest stage of all twice. He finished 14th in the marathon at the Mexico City Olympics then qualified again in 1972, finishing dead even with training partner Frank Shorter. Shorter would take the gold and glory on the final day of the Munich games in the shadow of the terrorist attacks. Moore just missed the podium, finishing 4th.
These experiences and these times provided extensive material for the writer who would become known as Kenny Moore. In 25 years at Sports Illustrated, Moore told the big stories, championed the protection of amateur athletes and co-wrote the definitive biography of the enigmatic Steve Prefontaine that inspired the film “Without Limits”. Moore has also written a biography of his Oregon coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman.
His activism helped win the freedom of imprisoned Ethiopian marathon champion Mamo Wolde.
Always relentless in his pursuits, we welcome Kenny Moore to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
