1970s Nike ‘Pre Montreal’ Track Spikes | Size 9.5

Offered in this lot is a pair of Nike ‘Pre’ Montreal track spikes, designed in anticipation of Steve Prefontaine’s run at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. Dressed in a patriotic red, white, and blue build, this model stands as the only Nike ever to carry Prefontaine’s name.

Prefontaine, universally known as “Pre,” was Nike’s first signed runner and the embodiment of the brand’s early ethos. He was a relentless competitor with unmatched charisma, described by Nike as having a “competitive fire, gutsy race tactics, and inherent charisma that charmed crowds and inspired up-and-coming runners.”

In 1969, Pre committed to the University of Oregon, where he began training under coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. During his time at Oregon, Pre captured seven NCAA titles and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “America’s Distance Prodigy.”

Produced in 1973, the Pre Montreal was among Nike’s earliest track models, marking the company’s foundational years in Oregon and its focus on building performance footwear for elite athletes. 

This pair was manufactured in Japan, where Nike's early prototypes and limited production models were made before the company expanded globally. Sized at 9.5, which also happens to be Prefontaine’s size, the pair features Nike’s original patriotic color scheme and is accompanied by its original box.

The shoes feature a seamless one-piece toe, in line with Steve’s preference, they also feature Nike’s original lowercase cursive logos on the tongues—an early branding hallmark seldom seen on later models.

Prefontaine was set to compete in the 1976 Olympics before his untimely death in a 1975 car accident at the age of 24. These spikes serve as a lasting tribute not only to Pre’s legacy but also to Nike’s earliest innovations and the spirit that helped launch the company into global prominence.