George Spitz

American high jumper

George Burton Spitz, Jr. (June 19, 1912 – April 1986)[1] was an American high jumper. He jumped indoor world records in 1931 and 1932 and was a leading favorite for that summer's Olympics; however, an ankle injury troubled him there and he only placed ninth.

## High jump career

[edit]

### Early years

[edit]

Spitz became one of America's leading high jumpers while still at Flushing High School, placing fourth in the 1929 national championships with a jump of 1.89 m (6 ft 2+3⁄8 in).[2] In March 1930 he jumped 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in), breaking the US high school record of Walter Marty.[3] At the national championships he repeated his fourth-place finish from the previous year.[2] He graduated from high school that spring and entered New York University.[4]

Spitz set his first indoor world record on February 7, 1931 at the Millrose Games, jumping 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) and defeating the previous record holders Harold Osborn and Bert Nelson.[4] He also had the best outdoor jump in the world that year,[5][6] clearing 2.01 m (6 ft 7+5⁄16 in) at Travers Island and attempting the world outdoor record height of 2.04 m (6 ft 8+3⁄8 in) three times.[7] At the national championships, however, he only cleared 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) and was yet again beaten to fourth place.[2]

### 1932 Olympic campaign

[edit]

Spitz was the world's best high jumper in 1932.[8] On February 6 he improved his own indoor world record to 2.02 m (6 ft 7+5⁄8 in), again at the Millrose Games.[9][10] A week later at Boston he broke the record again, jumping 2.04 m (6 ft 8+1⁄2 in),[11] a mark that exceeded Osborn's outdoor world record as well.[12] Spitz also won his first national indoor championship that year, clearing a meeting record 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) on that occasion.[13][14]

Spitz injured his ankle that spring, and while he remained in good form the injury gave him on-and-off trouble.[15] He was forced to scratch from the annual meet of his own club, the New York Athletic Club, in early June.[16] But he managed to return in time for the Olympic Trials, and after he jumped 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) in workouts ahead of the Trials[17] and 1.99 m (6 ft 6+5⁄8 in) in the competition itself, tying for first with Bob Van Osdel and Corny Johnson,[8] he was again considered the leading Olympic favorite.[18]

At the Olympics, however, the injured ankle bothered him again[15][18] and he only managed to place ninth, clearing no higher than 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in).[18]

### Later career and decline

[edit]

Spitz defended his national indoor title in 1933, jumping 2.03 m (6 ft 8+1⁄4 in) for a meeting record.[14][19] At the outdoor championships, however, he was beaten by Johnson and shared second place with Marty,[2] who had broken the outdoor world record earlier that year.[12][20]

In 1934 Spitz's indoor supremacy was seriously threatened by Marty, who had never jumped indoors before.[21] At the Millrose Games on February 5 Spitz and Marty tied, both jumping 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in).[22] In the New York Athletic Club indoor games on February 17, however, Marty beat both Spitz and his indoor record, clearing 2.05 m (6 ft 8+3⁄4 in) on his third attempt.[23] At the national indoor championships Spitz and Marty tied for first again, both clearing 2.01 m (6 ft 7+1⁄2 in) this time to share the title.[14]

Although unable to improve his indoor best, Spitz made his best outdoor jumps that year.[6] He won at the Penn Relays with a jump of 2.01 m (6 ft 7+1⁄4 in) and went an inch higher with an additional exhibition jump.[24] He then cleared 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) in his home meet at Travers Island,[25] his official outdoor best.[6] Spitz and Marty, both now collegiate seniors, faced each other again at the NCAA championships and again tied,[26] although Marty was victorious in the jump-off.[27] At the national championships Spitz cleared 2.02 m (6 ft 7+5⁄8 in), but had to be content with third place as both Johnson and Marty managed to jump an inch higher.[2]

Spitz continued his jumping career after graduating, but with decreasing success. At the 1935 national championships he still placed second to Johnson, clearing 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in).[2] At the 1936 Olympic Trials he only managed 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in), sharing fourth place with six other jumpers.[28]

### Jumping style

[edit]

Spitz jumped in an era in which most jumpers from the American west coast (such as Marty) used the western roll, whereas east coast jumpers tended to prefer the eastern cut-off or other developments of the old scissors style.[29] Spitz, a New Yorker, belonged to the latter group,[4][29] although his technique was largely self-taught and incorporated elements of the roll.[4][9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "George Spitz Bio, Stats and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
2. ^ a b c d e f Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian; Track & Field News. "A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011". Track & Field News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
3. ^ "Prep Athlete Soars to New High Jump Record". The Milwaukee Sentinel. March 23, 1930. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
4. ^ a b c d "Backyard Style Accounts for New High Jump Record". Eugene Register-Guard. February 9, 1931. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
5. ^ "Jumping Feats of George Spitz Given Recognition". The Deseret News. January 6, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
6. ^ a b c "George Spitz". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
7. ^ Reil, Frank (September 20, 1931). "George Spitz Just Misses World Jump Mark in Clearing 6 ft. 7 5-6 in" (PDF). Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
8. ^ a b Hymans, Richard. "The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field". Track & Field News. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
9. ^ a b Talbot, Gayle (February 8, 1932). "High Jump Champ Trained Himself in Own Backyard". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
10. ^ "New Sensation is Hopeful of Making Olympics". Lewiston Daily Sun. February 8, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
11. ^ "Mile Mark Again Lowered By Venzke". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 18, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
12. ^ a b Jukola, Martti (1935). Huippu-urheilun historia (in Finnish). Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö.
13. ^ "Venzke's Rivals Not Hot Enough". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 23, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
14. ^ a b c "USA Indoor Track & Field Champions". USA Track & Field. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
15. ^ a b "Reviewing Queens Sports for 1932: No. 18" (PDF). The Daily Star. January 18, 1933. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
16. ^ "Get Foretaste of Olympic Test". Reno Evening Gazette. June 4, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
17. ^ "Eastern Stars Show Class in Workouts". The Deseret News. July 13, 1932. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
18. ^ a b c "Athletics at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games: Men's High Jump". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
19. ^ Gould, Alan (March 23, 1933). "Sport Slants". Reading Eagle. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
20. ^ Butler, Mark; IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, International Association of Athletics Federations
21. ^ "California High Jumper East to Duel George Spitz". Reading Eagle. January 30, 1934. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
22. ^ "Marty, Spitz Fail to Set New Record". Berkeley Daily Gazette. February 5, 1934. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
23. ^ "Two Records Are Broken at Garden Races". The Milwaukee Journal. February 18, 1934. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
24. ^ Gould, Alan (April 29, 1934). "45,000 Fans See Five Marks Fall in Penn Carnival". Waterloo Daily Courier. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
25. ^ "Follows Opens Outdoor Campaign in Fast Race". The Milwaukee Journal. June 3, 1934. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
26. ^ Hill, E. Garry. "A History of the NCAA Championships" (PDF). Track & Field News. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
27. ^ Kuechle, Oliver E. (June 26, 1934). "The Jumps". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
28. ^ Hymans, Richard. "The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field". Track & Field News. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
29. ^ a b Wells, W. A. (March 1, 1934). "Western Track Fans Gloat At 'Roll' Triumph". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved June 19, 2013.

* v
* t
* e

USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's high jump (standing high jump)

Standing high jump|

* 1906: Ray Ewry
* 1907: Ray Ewry
* 1908: John Biller, Platt Adams
* 1909: Platt Adams
* 1910: Platt Adams
* 1913: Platt Adams
* 1915: William Taylor
* 1916: William Taylor
* 1917: William Taylor
* 1918: Leo Goehring
* 1919: William Taylor
* 1920: Ben Adams
* 1921: Ed Emes
* 1922: Edward Emes
* 1923: Thomas Hoskins
* 1924: Harry Sweitzer
* 1925: Harold Osborn
* 1926: Hans Hedberg
* 1927: Hans Hedberg
* 1928: Harold Osborn
* 1929: Harold Osborn
* 1930: Harold Osborn
* 1931: Harold Osborn

High jump|

* 1906: Herbert Gidney
* 1907: Harry Porter
* 1908: Harry Porter
* 1909: Harry Porter
* 1910: Harry Grumpelt
* 1911: Samuel Lawrence
* 1913: John Johnstone
* 1914: Eugene Jennings
* 1915: Wesley Oler
* 1916: Jo Loomis
* 1917: Jo Loomis
* 1918: Egon Erickson
* 1919: Walter Whalen
* 1920: Walter Whalen
* 1921: Richmond Landon
* 1922: Leroy Brown
* 1923: Harold Osborn
* 1924: Harold Osborn
* 1925: Harold Osborn
* 1926: Harold Osborn
* 1927: Charles W. Major
* 1928: Anton Burg
* 1929: Charles W. Major
* 1930: Anton Burg
* 1931: Anton Burg
* 1932: George Spitz
* 1933: George Spitz
* 1934: Walter Marty, George Spitz
* 1935: Cornelius Johnson
* 1936: Ed Burke
* 1937: Ed Burke
* 1938: Lloyd Thompson
* 1939: Mel Walker
* 1940: Arthur Byrnes
* 1941: Mel Walker
* 1942: Adam Berry, Josh Williamson
* 1943: Bill Vessie, Josh Williamson
* 1944: Dave Albritton, Bill Vessie
* 1945: Ken Wiesner, Josh Williamson
* 1946: John Vislocky
* 1947: John Vislocky
* 1948: John Vislocky
* 1949: Dick Phillips
* 1950: John Vislocky
* 1951: John Heintzmann, Jack Razetto, Josh Williamson
* 1952: Lewis Hall
* 1953: Lewis Hall
* 1954: Herman Wyatt
* 1955: Lewis Hall, Ernie Shelton
* 1956: Ernie Shelton
* 1957: Phil Reavis
* 1958: Herman Wyatt
* 1959: John Thomas
* 1960: John Thomas
* 1961:  Valeriy Brumel (URS), John Thomas (2nd)
* 1962: John Thomas
* 1963:  Valeriy Brumel (URS), John Thomas (2nd)
* 1964: John Thomas
* 1965:  Valeriy Brumel (URS), Gene Johnson (3rd)
* 1966: John Thomas
* 1967: John Rambo
* 1968:  Valentin Gavrilov (URS), Steve Kelly (2nd)
* 1969: John Rambo
* 1970: Otis Burrell
* 1971: Reynaldo Brown
* 1972: Gene White
* 1973: Dwight Stones
* 1974: Tom Woods
* 1975: Dwight Stones
* 1976:  Robert Forget (CAN), Bill Knoedel (2nd)
* 1977: Paul Underwood
* 1978: Dwight Stones
* 1979: Benn Fields
* 1980: Franklin Jacobs
* 1981: Jeff Woodard
* 1982: Dwight Stones
* 1983: Tyke Peacock
* 1984: Dennis Lewis
* 1985: Jim Howard
* 1986: Jim Howard
* 1987:  Igor Paklin (URS), Jim Howard (2nd)
* 1988:  Igor Paklin (URS), Jim Howard (2nd), Tom McCants (2nd)
* 1989:  Troy Kemp (BAH), Tom McCants (2nd)
* 1990: Hollis Conway
* 1991:  Javier Sotomayor (CUB), Hollis Conway (2nd)
* 1992: Hollis Conway
* 1993: Hollis Conway
* 1994: Hollis Conway
* 1995: Tony Barton
* 1996: Charles Austin
* 1997: Charles Austin
* 1998: Sam Hill
* 1999: Henry Patterson
* 2000: Matt Hemingway
* 2001: Nathan Leeper
* 2002: Nathan Leeper
* 2003: Charles Austin
* 2004: Jamie Nieto
* 2005: Tora Harris
* 2006: Adam Shunk
* 2007: Tora Harris
* 2008: Andra Manson
* 2009: Andra Manson
* 2010: Jesse Williams
* 2011: Jesse Williams
* 2012: Jesse Williams
* 2013: Dusty Jonas
* 2014: Erik Kynard
* 2015: Erik Kynard
* 2016: Erik Kynard
* 2017: Erik Kynard
* 2018: Erik Kynard
* 2019: Jeron Robinson
* 2020: Erik Kynard
* 2022: JuVaughn Harrison
* 2023: Shelby McEwen
* 2024: Shelby McEwen

Notes|

* From 1906 to 1979, events were conducted by the Amateur Athletic Union. Events from 1980 to 1992 were conducted under The Athletics Congress. Events thereafter were conducted by USA Track & Field.

* v
* t
* e

US National Championship winners in men's high jump

1876–1878
New York Athletic Club|

* 1876-8: Edwards Ficken

1879–1888
NAAAA|

* 1879: William Wunder
* 1880: Alfred Carroll
* 1881: C.W. Durand
* 1882: Alfred Carroll
* 1883: Malcolm Ford
* 1884: J.T. Rinehart
* 1885–87: William Page
* 1888Note 1: Tim O'Connor

1888–1979
Amateur Athletic Union|

* 1888Note 1: Daniel Webster
* 1889: R.K. Pritchard
* 1890–91: Alvah Nickerson
* 1892–95: Mike Sweeney
* 1896: Charles Powell
* 1897–1900: Irving Baxter
* 1901: Sam Jones
* 1902: Irving Baxter
* 1903-4: Sam Jones
* 1905: Herbert Kerrigan
* 1906: Neil Patterson
* 1907: Con Leahy
* 1908: Harry Porter
* 1909: Egon Erickson
* 1910: Walter Thomason
* 1911: Harry Grumpelt/Harry Porter
* 1912: John Johnstone
* 1913: Alma Richards
* 1914: Jo Loomis
* 1915: George Horine
* 1916: Wes Oler
* 1917: Clint Larsen
* 1918: Carl Rice
* 1919–20OT: John Murphy
* 1921–22: Dewey Alberts
* 1923: LeRoy Brown
* 1924: Robert Juday
* 1925–26: Harold Osborn
* 1927: Robert King
* 1928OT: Robert King/Charles McGinnis
* 1929: Henry Lassalette
* 1930–31: Anton Burg
* 1932OT: Cornelius Johnson/George Spitz/Robert van Osdel
* 1933: Cornelius Johnson
* 1934: Cornelius Johnson/Walter Marty
* 1935: Cornelius Johnson
* 1936: Cornelius Johnson/Dave Albritton
* 1937: Dave Albritton
* 1938: Mel Walker/Dave Albritton
* 1939–40: Les Steers
* 1941: Bill Stewart
* 1942: Adam Berry
* 1943: Pete Watkins
* 1944: Fred Sheffield/Willard Smith
* 1945: Dave Albritton/Lester Howe/Richard Schnacke/Joshua Williamson
* 1946–47: Dave Albritton
* 1948: Tom Schofield
* 1949: Dick Phillips
* 1950: Dave Albritton/Jack Heitzman/Jack Razzeto/Virgil Severns
* 1951: Lewis Hall
* 1952–53: Walt Davis
* 1954: Ernie Shelton
* 1955: Charles Dumas/Ernie Shelton
* 1956–59: Charles Dumas
* 1960: John Thomas
* 1961: Bob Avant
* 1962: John Thomas
* 1963: Gene Johnson
* 1964: Ed Caruthers
* 1965–67: Otis Burrell
* 1968: Ed Hanks
* 1969: Otis Burrell
* 1970–71: Reynaldo Brown
* 1972: Barry Schur
* 1973–74: Dwight Stones
* 1975: Tom Woods
* 1976–78: Dwight Stones
* 1979: Franklin Jacobs

1980–1992
The Athletics Congress|

* 1980: Franklin Jacobs
* 1981: Tyke Peacock
* 1982: Milt Ottey
* 1983: Dwight Stones
* 1984: Jim Howard
* 1985: Brian Stanton
* 1986: Doug Nordquist
* 1987: Jerome Carter
* 1988: Doug Nordquist
* 1989: Brian Brown
* 1990–92OT: Hollis Conway

1993-onwards
USA Track & Field|

* 1993–94: Hollis Conway
* 1995–20002OT: Charles Austin
* 2001–02: Nathan Leeper
* 2003–04OT: Jamie Nieto
* 2005: Matt Hemingway
* 2006: Tora Harris
* 2007: Jim Dilling
* 2008OT: Jesse Williams
* 2009: Tora Harris
* 2010–11: Jesse Williams
* 2012OT: Jamie Nieto
* 2013–16: Erik Kynard
* 2017:Bryan McBride
* 2018–19: Jeron Robinson
* 20212020 OT: JuVaughn Harrison

Notes|

* Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships

* OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932 and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.

* 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

* v
* t
* e

1932 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

* 1932 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's track
and road athletes|

* Ed Ablowich (r)
* Percy Beard
* Bill Carr
* Bill Chisholm
* Ernest Crosbie
* Frank Crowley
* Glenn Cunningham
* Glen Dawson
* Daniel Dean
* Hector Dyer (r)
* Ben Eastman
* Ivan Fuqua (r)
* Edwin Genung
* James Gordon
* Lou Gregory
* Norwood Hallowell
* Glenn Hardin
* Joe Healey
* James Henigan
* Ralph Hill
* Harry Hinkel
* Chuck Hornbostel
* Jack Keller
* Bob Kiesel (r)
* Joe McCluskey
* Ralph Metcalfe
* Albert Michelsen
* Hans Oldag
* Tom Ottey
* Eino Pentti
* Walter Pritchard
* Paul Rekers
* George Saling
* George Simpson
* Morgan Taylor
* Eddie Tolan
* Emmett Toppino (r)
* Edwin Turner
* Karl Warner (r)
* Frank Wykoff (r)

Men's field athletes|

* John Anderson
* Dick Barber
* Lee Bartlett
* Jim Bausch
* Sidney Bowman
* Wilson Charles
* Kenneth Churchill
* Clyde Coffman
* Frank Conner
* Sol Furth
* Ed Gordon
* Bill Graber
* Nelson Gray
* George Jefferson
* Paul Jessup
* Cornelius Johnson
* Henri LaBorde
* Grant McDougall
* Malcolm Metcalf
* Bill Miller
* Lambert Redd
* Rolland Romero
* Harlow Rothert
* Leo Sexton
* George Spitz
* Bob Van Osdel
* Pete Zaremba

Women's track athletes|

* Mary Carew (r)
* Babe Didrikson
* Evelyn Furtsch (r)
* Evelyne Hall
* Ethel Harrington
* Annette Rogers (r)
* Simone Schaller
* Wilhelmina von Bremen
* Elizabeth Wilde

Women's field athletes|

* Lillian Copeland
* Babe Didrikson
* Nan Gindele
* Margaret Jenkins
* Ruth Osburn
* Annette Rogers
* Gloria Russell
* Jean Shiley

Non-competing relay pool members|

* Arnold Adams
* Tidye Pickett
* Louise Stokes

Coaches|

* Lawson Robertson (men's head coach)
* Eddie Farrell (men's assistant coach)
* Harry Hillman (men's assistant coach)
* Jack Magee (men's assistant coach)
* George Vreeland (women's coach)

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*[URS]: Soviet Union
*[CAN]: Canada
*[BAH]: Bahamas
*[CUB]: Cuba