Tyson: A Reel-Life Consultant Filming Of ‘Prefontaine’ Keeps Mead Coach On The Run

Throw out Brad Pitt and Dana Carvey.

Bring in Al Bundy, Jared Leto, Breckin Meyer and Mead’s cross country team.

Poof! The perfect recipe for one of Walt Disney’s latest adventures into cinemaland: “Prefontaine.”

Leto plays Steve Prefontaine, the American running legend who died at age 24 after a (some say) mysterious automobile accident in Eugene, Ore.

Leto, 24, eerily resembles Prefontaine, according to Mead cross country coach and ex-Prefontaine roommate Pat Tyson.

Three years ago, during the project’s early stages, Pitt would have been a strong candidate for the role. But Pitt grew too expensive for the film and its $8 million budget.

Carvey expressed interest in playing Tyson, which might have worked for the current-day incarnation but not for the University of Oregon Tyson of two decades ago. So in came Meyer, known for his role as the goofy skateboarder in “Clueless.”

“He gets to play me, all the way up to age 46, at Mead High,” Tyson said.

Others involved in the movie, which figures to be released early next year, are Ed O’Neill, AKA Bundy on “Married With Children;” Steve James, who wrote and co-produced “Hoop Dreams;” Lee Ermey, the nasty drill sergeant in “Full-Metal Jacket,” and several stars from Mead.

In a scene of Prefontaine’s senior state cross country meet, Mead Superintendent Bill Mester plays a starter and Michael Wiser, father of Panther runners Ryan and Chad, portrays an official. Mead school board member Mary Jane Thompson, mother of runner Morgan, organized a group of 40-50 Panthers for the same scene and an earlier shot at a grade-school football game.

Now the real race is on. Hollywood Pictures, a division of Disney, is rushing to edit the film while (Tom) Cruise Productions, a Warner Bros. company, finishes its $24 million version, “Pre.”

“Prefontaine” has the blessing of Steve’s parents but not the rights to shoot in Eugene. Most scenes were filmed in Tacoma and Seattle.

“It was a busy, busy summer,” Tyson said. “I only spent one day in Spokane. The rest of the time I was on the set.”

Tyson coached Leto and worked behind the scenes to provide accuracy.

The money Mead earned for it work will indirectly pay for air fare to Monday’s Eugene Invitational. Mead, which has won the last eight State AAA titles, may enter as the country’s top-ranked team because the previous No. 1, Kingswood of Houston, lost last week.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo