George Spitz

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 {{frac|2|3|8}} in).{{cite magazine |title=A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011 |author1=Mallon, Bill |author2=Buchanan, Ian |author3=Track & Field News |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=22 |access-date=June 17, 2013 |magazine=Track & Field News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325035253/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=22 |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

In March 1930 he jumped 1.94 m (6 ft {{frac|4|1|2}} in), breaking the US high school record of Walter Marty.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19300323&id=oGVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8Q4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7001,4179004 |title=Prep Athlete Soars to New High Jump Record |date=March 23, 1930 |newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel |access-date=June 19, 2013 |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918175540/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19300323&id=oGVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8Q4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7001,4179004 |url-status=dead }} At the national championships he repeated his fourth-place finish from the previous year. He graduated from high school that spring and entered New York University.

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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19310209&id=CO00AAAAIBAJ&sjid=hOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,2706424 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |date=February 9, 1931 |title=Backyard Style Accounts for New High Jump Record |access-date=June 19, 2013}} He also had the best outdoor jump in the world that year,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19320106&id=R6lOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AbYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2727,528575 |title=Jumping Feats of George Spitz Given Recognition |date=January 6, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |newspaper=The Deseret News}}{{cite web |url=http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=6306&Gender=M |publisher=trackfield.brinkster.net |title=George Spitz |access-date=June 19, 2013}} clearing 2.01 m (6 ft {{frac|7|5|16}} in) at Travers Island and attempting the world outdoor record height of 2.04 m (6 ft {{frac|8|3|8}} in) three times.{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201931%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201931%20a%20Grayscale%20-%200707.pdf |newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |date=September 20, 1931 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |author=Reil, Frank |title=George Spitz Just Misses World Jump Mark in Clearing 6 ft. 7 5-6 in.}} At the national championships, however, he only cleared 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) and was yet again beaten to fourth place.

Spitz was the world's best high jumper in 1932.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1152 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |magazine=Track & Field News |access-date=June 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524034523/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1152 |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }} On February 6 he improved his own indoor world record to 2.02 m (6 ft {{frac|7|5|8}} in), again at the Millrose Games.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19320208&id=0ao0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=6GoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1007,2934638 |date=February 8, 1932 |publisher=Lewiston Daily Sun |title=New Sensation is Hopeful of Making Olympics |access-date=June 19, 2013}} A week later at the Boston Athletic Association Indoor Games he broke the record again, jumping 2.04 m (6 ft {{frac|8|1|2}} in),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19320218&id=NrpRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1WkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4131,2366363 |title=Mile Mark Again Lowered By Venzke |date=February 18, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} a mark that exceeded Osborn's outdoor world record as well.{{cite book |title=Huippu-urheilun historia |year=1935 |publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö |author=Jukola, Martti |language=fi}} Spitz also won his first national indoor championship that year, clearing a meeting record 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) on that occasion.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19320223&id=rNJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2PQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1628,5356171 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=February 23, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=Venzke's Rivals Not Hot Enough}}{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/men/HJ.aspx |title=USA Indoor Track & Field Champions |publisher=USA Track & Field |access-date=June 19, 2013}}

Spitz injured his ankle that spring, and while he remained in good form the injury gave him on-and-off trouble.{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201933/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201933%20-%200205.pdf |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=January 18, 1933 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=Reviewing Queens Sports for 1932: No. 18}} He was forced to scratch from the annual meet of his own club, the New York Athletic Club, in early June.{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/reno-evening-gazette/1932-06-04/page-11 |publisher=Reno Evening Gazette |date=June 4, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=Get Foretaste of Olympic Test}} 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{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19320713&id=a50xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1rUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6323,1086873 |newspaper=The Deseret News |title=Eastern Stars Show Class in Workouts |date=July 13, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013}} and 1.99 m (6 ft {{frac|6|5|8}} in) in the competition itself, tying for first with Bob Van Osdel and Corny Johnson, he was again considered the leading Olympic favorite.{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1932/ATH/mens-high-jump.html |title=Athletics at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games: Men's High Jump |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=June 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213045738/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1932/ATH/mens-high-jump.html |archive-date=December 13, 2012 }}

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

Spitz defended his national indoor title in 1933, jumping 2.03 m (6 ft {{frac|8|1|4}} in) for a meeting record.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19330323&id=6CIxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7-EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5368,3151132 |author=Gould, Alan |title=Sport Slants |date=March 23, 1933 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |newspaper=Reading Eagle}} At the outdoor championships, however, he was beaten by Johnson and shared second place with Marty, who had broken the outdoor world record earlier that year.{{Citation |author1=Butler, Mark |author2=IAAF Media & Public Relations Department |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations |title=IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011}}

In 1934 Spitz's indoor supremacy was seriously threatened by Marty, who had never jumped indoors before.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19340129&id=Lr8xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pOIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2754,4993623 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |date=January 30, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=California High Jumper East to Duel George Spitz}} At the Millrose Games on February 5 Spitz and Marty tied, both jumping 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19340205&id=XzkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4-MFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5735,3078449 |title=Marty, Spitz Fail to Set New Record |date=February 5, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |publisher=Berkeley Daily Gazette}} 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 {{frac|8|3|4}} in) on his third attempt.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19340218&id=Lq9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7CEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6012,3256220 |date=February 18, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=Two Records Are Broken at Garden Races |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal}} At the national indoor championships Spitz and Marty tied for first again, both clearing 2.01 m (6 ft {{frac|7|1|2}} in) this time to share the title.

Although unable to improve his indoor best, Spitz made his best outdoor jumps that year. He won at the Penn Relays with a jump of 2.01 m (6 ft {{frac|7|1|4}} in) and went an inch higher with an additional exhibition jump.{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/waterloo-daily-courier/1934-04-29/page-15 |publisher=Waterloo Daily Courier |date=April 29, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |author=Gould, Alan |title=45,000 Fans See Five Marks Fall in Penn Carnival}} He then cleared 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) in his home meet at Travers Island,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19340603&id=W6RQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025,595540 |date=June 3, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=Follows Opens Outdoor Campaign in Fast Race |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal}} his official outdoor best. Spitz and Marty, both now collegiate seniors, faced each other again at the NCAA championships and again tied,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ncaa_history_pdfs/14-ncaamhj.pdf |magazine=Track & Field News |author=Hill, E. Garry |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=A History of the NCAA Championships}} although Marty was victorious in the jump-off.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19340626&id=dP0ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LCIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6070,287721 |author=Kuechle, Oliver E. |date=June 26, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=The Jumps |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal}} At the national championships Spitz cleared 2.02 m (6 ft {{frac|7|5|8}} in), but had to be content with third place as both Johnson and Marty managed to jump an inch higher.

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). At the 1936 Olympic Trials he only managed 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in), sharing fourth place with six other jumpers.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |magazine=Track & Field News |access-date=June 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926191030/https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19340301&id=LxweAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VGQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4646,4151388 |title=Western Track Fans Gloat At 'Roll' Triumph |author=Wells, W. A. |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=March 1, 1934 |access-date=June 19, 2013}} Spitz, a New Yorker, belonged to the latter group, although his technique was largely self-taught and incorporated elements of the roll.{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/oshkosh-daily-northwestern/1932-02-08/page-12 |publisher=Oshkosh Daily Northwestern |date=February 8, 1932 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |title=High Jump Champ Trained Himself in Own Backyard |author=Talbot, Gayle}}

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{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's high jump}}

{{Footer US NC high jump Men}}

{{Footer USA Track & Field 1932 Summer Olympics}}

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Category:1912 births

Category:1986 deaths

Category:American male high jumpers

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Category:Flushing High School alumni

Category:NYU Violets men's track and field athletes

Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States

Category:Track and field athletes from New York City

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:20th-century American sportsmen