Kenny Moore
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Moore (born December 1, 1943 in Eugene, Oregon
) is an American
athlete and journalist. At the University of Oregon
, Moore was one of Bill Bowerman
's finest distance runners. After college, Moore ran in the Olympic marathon at both Mexico City
and Munich
, finishing fourth in 1972. (Teammate Frank Shorter
won the Gold).
He won the largest footrace in the world, the San Francisco Bay to Breakers
, six times in a row--the all-time leader in victories in the race.
After his track career, Moore became a journalist and screenwriter. He had a twenty-five year career covering athletics for Sports Illustrated
. At the end of his career at Sports Illustrated, Moore took up the plight of former competitor Mamo Wolde
, who was falsely imprisoned in Ethiopia
. In his story, Moore championed Wolde's release from prison, a release that came months before Wolde's death.
Moore was also one of the athletes who pushed for the Amateur Sports Act of 1978
. He also helped to write the screenplay for the 1998 biopic Without Limits
, a film about former Oregon Ducks
standout Steve Prefontaine
.
Kenny Moore currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, and Hawaii. He has published a book about his former coach entitled Bowerman and the Men of Oregon.
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete and journalist. At the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Moore was one of Bill Bowerman
Bill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
's finest distance runners. After college, Moore ran in the Olympic marathon at both Mexico City
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and Munich
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, finishing fourth in 1972. (Teammate Frank Shorter
Frank Shorter
Frank Charles Shorter is a former American long-distance runner who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics. His victory is credited with igniting the running boom in the United States of the 1970s....
won the Gold).
He won the largest footrace in the world, the San Francisco Bay to Breakers
Bay to Breakers
The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California on the third Sunday of May. The name reflects the fact that the race starts at the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero and runs west through the city to finish at the Great...
, six times in a row--the all-time leader in victories in the race.
After his track career, Moore became a journalist and screenwriter. He had a twenty-five year career covering athletics for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. At the end of his career at Sports Illustrated, Moore took up the plight of former competitor Mamo Wolde
Mamo Wolde
Degaga Wolde was an Ethiopian long distance track and road running athlete and was winner of the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, who was falsely imprisoned in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. In his story, Moore championed Wolde's release from prison, a release that came months before Wolde's death.
Moore was also one of the athletes who pushed for the Amateur Sports Act of 1978
Amateur Sports Act of 1978
The Amateur Sports Act of 1978, , establishes a United States Olympic Committee and provides for national governing bodies for each Olympic sport...
. He also helped to write the screenplay for the 1998 biopic Without Limits
Without Limits
Without Limits is a 1998 biographical film about the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman, who later co-founded Nike, Inc....
, a film about former Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
standout Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
.
Kenny Moore currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, and Hawaii. He has published a book about his former coach entitled Bowerman and the Men of Oregon.