The 38th annual Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12. Eight individuals and two teams will be honored, bringing the total number of inductees to 253. Every day leading up to the induction, a different member of the Class of 2016 will be profiled on GoJaspers.com.
Robert O'Brien '61 (Men's Track & Field)
Sponsored by Ainsley Kelly & Tom McCarthy '06
Of all the greats on George Eastment's legendary Manhattan College track & field teams in the 1960s, Robert “Bob” O'Brien may have been the most versatile. The team's “workhorse,” he could be called upon to contribute wherever needed, and scored points in 10 different events during his career.
In addition to being a standout individual athlete, Bob was dedicated to the success of the team as a whole. His teammates' success was his success. It's because of this personal greatness and all-around commitment that he was awarded the Manhattan College Spiked Shoe Club Most Valuable Athlete Trophy in 1961.
O'Brien's best event was the long jump. He set a school record of 24 feet to win the 1961 IC4A indoor championship, and he also claimed IC4A medals in the triple jump and one mile relay. In addition, he once finished third in the invitational long jump at the New York Athletic Club meet, behind 1960 Olympic gold medalist Ralph Boston and ahead of the Soviet Union's Igor Ter-Ovanesyan, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. O'Brien was also on the Jaspers' 440-yard relay squad that upset Villanova (with world record-holders Frank Budd and Paul Drayton) at the Quantico Relays.
More than 50 years later, he still hasn't hung up his spikes. O'Brien has been competing at the master's level for more than 20 years, winning numerous titles and setting several records. At the 2011 USA Masters national indoor meet, Bob finished third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the 200 meters.
The 1960s were a golden era for the Manhattan track & field program. One that has already produced a number of Hall of Famers. And now, another joins the ranks. Bob O'Brien, Class of 1961, welcome to the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame.
