Fred Sproul

Fred Sproul served notice early about his high school running career by recording the fastest (2:08) half mile time in 1975 by an eighth-grade student in Oregon according to Who’s Who in Oregon Track and Field magazine.

As a freshman in 1975, Fred helped his cross country team to the Coast Valley League District Championship and as a senior in 1978 he led his team to second place in the 4A Oregon State Cross Country Championships. He earned All-League Honors in 1975, 76, 77 and 78.

In four State Championship races from 1975 through 1978, Fred placed 48th, 28th, 18th and 3rd. He was third team All-State his junior year and earned first team All-State Honors with special recognition for placing in the top ten his senior year. To this date, Fred still is tied for the school record (12:30) on the two and one-half mile Coffenbury Lake Course and holds the 5,000 meter school record (16:50).

His track career was characterized by his sprinter’s speed and distance endurance. He earned All Coast Valley League Honors in 1977 in the two mile, in 1978 in the 800-meters, and in 1979 in the 1,500 and 800-meters as his career spanned the time when Oregon converted to the metric distances.

In state track competition, Fred placed 10th in the two-mile in 1977. In 1978 he ran 1:56 to place fifth in the 800-meters, and in 1979 he capped his high school career by placing fifth in the 800-meters in 1:53.2 and winning All State Honors by placing second in the 1,500-meters in 3:52.3. Both marks remain school records to this date. During his senior season, Fred broke the school 3,000-meter record (8:51) and was voted Most Valuable Track Athlete.

Fred’s college career started at Lane Community College where he earned All-Conference honors in Cross Country and Track in the 1,500-meters and mile relay. He also earned All-American Honors in Cross Country and Track where he placed second in the 1,500-meters at the National Championship. He set school records in the 1,500 and 800-meters and was a member of the school record setting distance medley, sprint medley, and four-mile relay teams.

At Division 1 Northern Arizona Universtiy, Fred won All-Conference Honors for indoor track in 1982, 83, and 84 and was a Big Sky Conference 1,000-meter champion in 1984. He ran in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Indoor Championships in 1982 and 83 and was awarded Northern Arizona University’s and Big Sky Conference Scholar Athlete in 1984.