Who is the greatest ahtlete in the history of Harvard?

Answer 1

Ask Bill McCurdy to name the greatest athlete he has ever coached in his 19 years at Harvard, and chances are he'll say say Bob Rittenburg. Ask him to single out the one greatest performance by a Harvard runner and there's no question that he'll name Rittenburg--for what the May 22, 1955 Crimson called the "greatest one-day exhibition that any Crimson track man has ever put on."

The day before, in New Haven, hurdles specialist Rittenburg had scored an incredible 26 points in six events to salvage a Harvard victory over Yale by a mere 2/3 of a point--70 1/3 to 69 2/3.

Yale had been dominating Ivy League track for years--despite a resurgence at Harvard when McCurdy became head coach in 1952--and the Crimson was spoiling for revenge.

Rittenburg, Harvard's lean captain, had had a great season. Against Dartmouth he had won two first places, tied for another, and taken one second. At Brown he finished first in five events. Even so, everyone expected Yale to pick up its second victory of the season from the Crimson. And--winning nine of 16 first places-- Yale would have won if Rit had not been around.

But the lanky senior stole the show, winning four events--the broad jump, high jump, high hurdles, and 220-yard low hurdles--and finishing second in two--the 100 and 220--to give Harvard its 2/3 point victory.

Planning his strategy before the meet, McCurdy decided to send his captain in the four events he regularly entered--the two jumps and the two hurdle races. At Rittenburg's request, McCurdy agreed to let him enter the 100--a race he had never before run seriously in competition--as long as it didn't interfere with the high jump.

Rittenburg began his heyday by winning the broad jump with a 23'-plus leap--his best ever. Between tries in the high jump, as the bar rose quickly toward six feet, he sprinted to an unexpected second place in the 100 in 9.9 seconds and a 14.6 victory clocking in the high hurdles.

The high jump bar was hoisted to six feet, and all jumpers from both teams were still in. Suddenly, Rittenburg jogged over to McCurdy and asked him to let him enter the 220.

"What about the high jump?" McCurdy asked.

"It won't interfere," the senior answered, and ran back to the high jump pit.