( CNN ) -- Steve Prefontaine set the 5,000 meter record at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1972 . The race was held on a course that had been used for track and field events since 1924, but it is considered one of the most difficult races to run because of its steep elevation gain from sea Galen Rupp broke the record by less than two-tenths of a second . ` ` To hear I got the record , that 's unreal , '' Rupp says .
Steve Prefontaine set the 5,000 meter record at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1972 . The race was held on a course that had been used for track and field events since 1924, but it is considered one of the most difficult races to run because of its steep elevation gain from sea Galen Rupp broke the record by less than two-tenths of a second . ` ` To hear I got the record , that 's unreal , '' Rupp says .