In the winter of 1969, between miles of training and hours of classwork, Rick Riley was thrown an odd job by Washington State track and field coach Jack Mooberry.

Recruiting Steve Prefontaine.

Rarely has there been so succinct a definition of “fool’s errand.” The Cougars were one of 40 colleges making entreaties to the best high school runner in the land, and Prefontaine didn’t particularly want to attend any of them. His heart was set on Oregon, whose imperious coach, Bill Bowerman, didn’t so much recruit as nod, “OK, come along,” especially to dreamers within a couple of hours’ drive.

But as a senior at Ferris High School three years before, Riley had set the national prep record for 2 miles. The Cougs thought he could make their pitch with some additional cachet, and so Riley dialed

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