The 29th-annual Prefontaine Memorial Run is just two weeks away.

Applications are being accepted for the 10,000-meter race that honors the memory of Steve Prefontaine, who grew up in Coos Bay and became America’s top distance runner in the early 1970s.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, in downtown Coos Bay, as part of the Bay Area Fun Festival.

Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in five-year age groups, while trophies will be presented to the male, female and wheelchair champions. In addition, team scores will be kept for high school and college squads, with the top three men’s and women’s teams receiving trophies.

All race entrants will receive T-shirts designed to commemorate the race.

The entry fee is $19 for those who register by Sept. 15 and $22 after that date.

On-line registration is encouraged by logging on to the Pre run Web site at www.prefontainerun.com. Registration forms also are available at the Visitor Information Center, Farr’s True Value Hardware and Huggins Insurance in Coos Bay.

For more information, or to have an application for the race mailed out, call (800) 824-8486 or 269-1103.

Pre held every American record from 2 miles to 10,000 meters when he was killed in a car accident in 1975.

The special qualities that made Prefontaine a hero to track fans more than three decades ago are still creating new admirers. Many who were not born when Pre was setting records, or ever saw him compete, are inspired by his enduring example of courage, feisty determination and charisma. The run was started when a group of Coos Bay citizens decided it was time Pre’s hometown did something to honor its favorite son.

The race is the single largest sports event on the SouthCoast each year, annually drawing at least 800 runners from several parts of Oregon and other states.

Masters swim clinic

Local masters swimmers will offer a free clinic on Sunday, Sept. 14, for people interested in learning how to become a better swimmer.

The clinic will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mingus Park Pool. Adults interested in improving their swimming skills should bring a suit and towel and plan to get wet.

Participants will be taught how to swim the four competitive strokes and also how to turn during races. Other items include nutrition and training, as well as information about competitive swimming in pools and lakes for all swimmers ages 20 to 90.

The clinic will be put on by four swimmers who participated in the recent Masters National Championships — Denise Stuntzner-Gibson, Jayna Tomac, Karen Matson and Ralph Mohr.

For more information, call 269-1565 or check signs at the Mingus Park Pool.

Roller girls to hold bout

The Rockin’ Roulettes of the Coos CountyRoller Girls will be hitting the flat track on Saturday,Sept. 13, for a mixed bout with various leagues of the Pacific Northwest.

The roller derby bout begins at 6 p.m. at the Sunset Middle School roller hockey rink in Empire.

The event also includes a canned food drive for SouthCoast Food Share. Spectators  are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items. Donations for the Coos County Roller Girls league also will be accepted.

Members of several leagues have been invited to take part in the action.

For more information about roller derby or the Coos County Roller Girls, those interested can visit www.myspace.com/cooscountyrollergirls.