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.

With only seconds remaining before the start of the 220, Rittenburg took his first jump at six feet, which was about the limit of his capability in the event. He soared over with inches to spare, climbed out of the pit, ran over to the 220 starting line, and sprinted to a second place finish in another race he had never run in serious competition before.

Meanwhile, the two Yale high jumpers were agog. Both had jumped well over six feet before. But that day neither of them could clear it. Rittenburg picked up his third first place.

Minutes after the completion of the 220, Rittenburg lined up for the start of the 220 low hurdles, his specialty, and sped to his fourth victory of the day, shattering a 14-year-old Harvard hurdles record. His record time of 23.4 seconds stood until 1958.

Normally, Rittenburg would have run a leg for Harvard's mile relay team. But on that day--a bleak one for the fans in New Haven--McCurdy sent another runner in his weary captain's place. Without him, the team lost.

Rittenburg is still running today. Late last January, he trimmed his weight by 20 pounds, entered the Boston Athletic Association Indoor Meet, and ran a respectable, though non-placing time in the hurdles. These "periodic comebacks," as McCurdy calls them, are just what you'd expect from Rit. He never recognized a limit on what he might do and there will never be another like him.