Nike Releases A Cortez Inspired By The Unstoppable Steve Prefontaine

When we first saw the Nike Cortez with new stop sign logos on the heel late last year, we were a bit perplexed. But now it all makes sense. Nike clues us all in with the debut of the original white, red, and blue colorway also featuring the stop sign, which is a reference to the “Stop Pre” shirts circulating around at the height of legendary long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine’s career in the early 1970s—back in the days when Nike with their new Cortez model were just getting started. This new premium edition of the iconic Cortez not only has the stops signs on the heels, but also receives a ’70s style graphic on each insole, the text “Tradition Never Stops” on the inside of the tongue, and a custom drawstring bag to store them in. The “Stop Pre” Cortez will launch January 28th on the Nike SNKRS app, and will also be available at select Nike Sportswear retailers.