From the first modern Olympics in 1896 – when three Harvard undergraduates combined to bring home five gold medals – to the 2004 Sydney Games where the Crimson was represented by some of its best, Harvard track has been a history-making proposition. Steeped in the tradition of over 132 years of Harvard competition, current students continue to excel on both the national and international levels. Of course, history has provided some great examples for them.
Ned Gourdin ’21 set a world record (25’3”) in the long jump while competing against Oxford-Cambridge in 1921. NCAA champion and two-time Olympian Sam Felton ’48 set standards for every Harvard hammer thrower since his day. Dyke Benjamin ’59 set a path for future Harvard distance runners with his American record in the four-mile run. Ted Bailey ’62 followed Felton’s turns in the oval to win the NCAA championship.
Four athletes from the class of 1968 – Trey Burns, Jeff Huvelle, Jim Baker and Dave McKelvey – put Harvard in the relay record books with their NCAA two-mile relay victory. Charlie Ajootian ’69 and Ed Nosal ’70 produced back-to-back national championships in the 35-pound weight throw. Keith Colburn’s ’70 1,000 yard victory in the Nationals helped catapult Harvard to a third place finish – the highest ever by an Ivy League school. Geoff Stiles ’79 capped the seventies with a soaring victory in the NCAA pole vault. The incomparable running of Adam Dixon ’83 resulted in an American record in the 1,000-meter run in the Harvard-Yale meet of 1981.
Darlene Beckford ’84 and Jenny Stricker ’86, both collegiate record-holders (mile and 3,000 meters respectively) upon graduation, set the example which has been followed by 1989 and 1990 NCAA 800-meter champion Meredith Rainey ’90. Nick Sweeney ’92 joined Meredith at both the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics as he threw the discus for his native Ireland. Nick also threw in Sydney and Athens.
Cathy Griffin ’92 (discus) and four-time All-American Ian Carswell ’97 (5,000 meter) placed first and second, respectively, in the ’96 Canadian Olympic Trials, providing further testament to Harvard’s international track and field reputation. Cross Country All-American and ’88 Seoul Olympic marathon alternate Paul Gompers ’87 set the American Junior record in the marathon in his first ever competition. During her first year at Harvard, Karen Goetze ’96 captured the French Junior 800 meter National Championship. Dora Gyorffy ’01 has “NCAA High Jump Champion” imprinted on two of her seven All-American plaques. Kart Siilats ’02 followed by winning the NCAA High Jump Championship in 2001 on the same day Gyorffy finished fifth at the World Championships. No university has ever had such success. Brenda Taylor ’01, 2001 NCAA 400m Hurdles Champion, was named the Honda Award winner as the nation’s top collegiate Division I Track and Field Athlete of the year. She is the first Ivy League student to receive this honor. Two-time All-American Darren Dinneen ’00 and Chris Clever ’01 propelled the men into the 21st century with their achievements in the 800m and javelin, respectively. Chris Lambert placed fourth in the 200 meters at the 2003 Outdoor NCAA’s, and added to his career accolades with a gold medal in the World University Games in the 100 meters. Most recently, Rebecca Christensen ’09 earned four All-America honors, placing in the top-10 in the high jump four times at the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships.
With more than 30 Heptagonal titles, Harvard track has provided an atmosphere for both individual and team success and the formula for this success remains the same today: motivated students, a committed coaching staff, top facilities and Harvard University. It’s an equation that makes for greatness.
At Harvard, competing in track and field and cross country means making a commitment, but it doesn’t mean taking a vow. Over the years, the Crimson has been worn by more than a few great performers who put in the miles and hours necessary for reaching high levels of success. But joining the Harvard program doesn’t mean that growth in other areas is blunted - in fact, it’s enhanced.
Bob Madsen ’85, a standout in the hammer, was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship as was Craig May in 2002. Rainey, Suzanne Jones ’91, and Gyorffy were awarded NCAA post-graduate scholarships. During the 1987-88 season, Don LaVigne ’89 decided to compete away from Harvard. His decision as welcomed by the Crimson coaching staff and teammates, as LaVigne competed in the 1988 Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. bobsledding team. He joined Jim Herberich ’85, who has represented the U.S. three times as a member of the Olympic Bobsled team.
These are just a few of the many examples of what can be accomplished in the supportive and highly motivated realm of the Harvard programs. Versatility and dedication not only to their chosen athletic interests, but also to the University and community are the norm for Harvard athletes.
