New Track to Honor McCurdy

Naming the new Harvard track was no problem.

"Who else would we name it after?" Co-Captain Steve Ezeji-Okoye asked. "After all Bill McCurdy is Harvard Track.

On Sunday morning at a.m., when the outdoor track is dedicated to William Walkers McCurdy. Harvard will be paying tribute to a man who has dedicated more than three decades of his life to Harvard track.

McCardy joined the Crimson coaching staff in 1950 as an assistant and freshman coach, after serving as cross counters coach at Springfield College. Two years later when Coach Jaako Mikola, tired, McCurdy was named head coach of the Harvard men's cross country indoor, and outdoor track teams.

Under this graduate from 1952-81, the cross-country squad compiled a 201-62-1 record captured 10 Greater Boston Championship (GBC) titles, six Heptatagonal trophies and one IC4A championship.

His indoor track teams amassed 132 victories against just 30 losses, with 12 GBC and eight Heps titles Outdoors, his numbers read 112-261, 15 GBCs and live more Hops.

What has made McCurdy a Harvard back legend is not merely his lifetime 445-1202 ledget, however, but also his ability to motivate his runners, while displaying a sense of humor.

"McCurdy always helped keep things in perspective." Ezeji-Okoye said. "Almost everyone has been the victim of the McCurdy put-down.

The Harvard mentor got his start in track at Tamplais High School in his hometown of Mill Valley, Calif. He continued to run while attending Stanford from 1933-37.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and became the Deputy Dig rector of Army Physical Training before taking the Springfield job.

Since his retirement as Harvard head coach at the end of the '82 campaign, McCurdy has been spending time with his wife Virginia at their home in Harvard, Mass. In his own words, he has been "developing an innate talent at being busy doing nothing." He also has continued to coach former Crimson track standout Adam Dixon.

Despite keeping tabs on the progress of the Harvard track program, the track dedication caught him off guard.

"It came as a complete surprise," McCurdy said. "I was minding my own business when the phone rang and a voice said. "This is Jack Reardon." My first thought was, "What have I done now?."

The dedication ceremony and McCurdy's presence give this weekend's Heps special significance.

According to Co-Captain John Perkins. "This meet is all about what he stood for."

Schedule of Events for the 1985 Heptagonal Championships

All Events at Harvard Outdoor Track All Events in Meters

Saturday, May 4

11:00 Women's 10,000 Final

11:00 Women's Long Jump Trials and Final

11:50 Women's Heptathlon-100 Hurdles

12:00 Women's 100 Hurdles Trials

12:15 Women's 100 Trials

12:25 Women's Heptathlon-High Jump

12:30 Women's 400 Trials

12:45 Women's 100 Hurdles Semis

12:55 Women's 100 Semis

1:05 Women's 800 Trials

1:25 Women's 400 Hurdles Trials

1:30 Women's Discus Trials and Final

1:40 Women's 1500 Trials

1:45 Women's Heptathlon-Shot Put

1:55 Women's 200 Trials

2:00 Women's High Jump Final

2:05 Women's 400 Semis

2:15 Women's 800 Semis

2:25 Women's 400 Hurdles Semis

2:30 Men's Hammer Trials and Final

2:35 Women's 200 Semis

3:00 Men's Long Jump Finals and Final

3:10 Men's 110 Hurdles Finals

3:25 Men's 100 Finals

3:40 Men's 400 Finals

3:55 Men's 110 Hurdles Semis

4:05 Men's 100 Semis

4:15 Men's 800 Finals

4:30 Men's Shot Trials and Final

4:30 Men's Javelin Trials and Final

4:35 Men's 400 Hurdles Trials

4:50 Men's 1500 Trials

5:05 Men's 200 Trials

5:20 Men's 400 Semis

5:30 Men's 800 Semis

5:40 Men's 400 Hurdles Semis

5:50 Men's 200 Semis

6:00 Men's 10 000 Finals

Sunday, May 5

10:00 DEDICATION OFMcCERDY TRACK

11:45 Women's 5000 Unseeded Final

12:00 Women's Heptathlon-Long Jump

12:00 Men's Discuss Trials and Final

12:00 Men's Pole Vauh Trials and Final

12:00 Men's High Jump Trials and Final

12:05 Women's 5000 Seeded Final

12:05 Women's 400 Relay unseeded Final

12:30 Women's 400 Relay Seeded Final

12:35 Men's 400 Relay Seeded Final

12:40 Men's 400 Relay Seeded Final

12:45 Men's 3000 Steeplechase Unseeded Final

1:00 Men's 3000 Steeplechase Seeded Final

1:00 Women's Triple Jump Trials and Final

1:00 Women's Shot Put Trials and Finals

1:00 Women's Heptathlon Javelin

1:10 Women's 1500 Final

1:20 Men's 1500 Final

1:30 Women's 100 Hurdles Final

1:40 Men's 110 Hurdles Final

1:50 Women's 400 Final

1:55 Men's 400 Final

2:05 Women's 100 Final

2:10 Men's 100 Final

2:15 Women's Javelin Trials and Final

2:20 Women's 800 Final

2:25 Men's 800 Final

2:30 Men's Tropic Jump Trials and Final

2:30 Women's Heptathlon 800

2:40 Women's 400 Hurdles Final

2:50 Men's 400 Hurdles Final

3:00 Women's 200 Final

3:05 Men's 200 Final

3:10 Women's 3000 Final

3:30 Men's 5000 Final

4:00 Women's 200 Relay Final

4:10 Women's 1600 Relay Unseeded Final

4:15 Women's 1600 Relay seeded

4:20 Men's 1600 Relay Unseeded Final

4:25 Men's 1600 Relay seeded Final

4:45 Awards Presentation