Rudy Chapa - Track & Field

One of the University of Oregon’s greatest and most versatile distance runners and the only one other than Steve Prefontaine that is the top-10 ranked for the Ducks in the 1,500 meter, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. During his career, Rudy was an NCAA champion in the 5K in 1978, three-time track All-American in the 5K (1978, 1979, 1981), four-time All-American in the cross country, and two-time Pac-8/10 1,500 champion. At the U.S. level, he held the American record in the 3,000 and was the top-ranked American 5K runner in 1979 as a collegiate junior (also second in the 1978 and 10th in 1980), and was 10th ranked in the 1,500 in 1978. His 1978 NCAA 5K title (with cheers of ‘Rudy, Rudy” from the thousands of fans at UO’s Hayward Field) is one of Track City USA’s most celebrated memories (along with his American record in the 3K a year later which broke Pre’s former mark). He also was a favorite for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team in the 5,000 but suffered an injury.

He is the former Oregon record holder in the 5,000 meters (13:19.22), which still ranks him second at UO and also second all-time among American collegians behind former teammate Bill McChesney Jr. For the Ducks, he also still ranks sixth in the 1,500 (and second when he ran it back in 1979), seventh in the mile (3:57.04), and fifth in the 10,000 (28:51.1, 1977). On the all-time U.S. list, Rudy still ranks sixth in the 3,000 (7:37.70) with his then-American record from Oregon Twilight, 17th in the 5K(13:19.22) and 31st in the marathon (2:11.13 New York marathon debut in 1983).

One of the most celebrated U.S. prep track stars, Chapa still owns the U.S. junior 10K record (28:32.7 which was a world junior record) from the 1976 Drake Relays which qualified him for the 1976 Olympic Trials as a high school senior. He still owns Indiana state championship records of 4:04.20 (1,600) and 8:55.10 (3,200). Overall, he won or shared four state titles in track and field and cross-country.