University of California Athletics

Emery Curtice captained Cal's 1929 track and field team. He became the first Cal athlete to throw the javelin over 200 feet with a throw of 201-5 in a dual meet vs. Washington. He registered a national record 209-9.75 throw in the California Intercollegiate meet in Los Angeles in 1929. Curtice was a courageous athlete who was told to retire at the end of his sophomore season with an arm injury, but he came back to compete. He continued throwing the javelin most of his life, setting world records in the master's age groups in the 60-69-year old range and the 70-79-year old category. Curtice set a world record in 1977 in the World Masters Games in Sweden. He also officiated in Cal track meets from 1938 to the early 1970s and headed the Alumni Scholarship Committee in the East Bay for over 15 years, serving as a member of the Cal Alumni Council. Curtice was an educator who served as principal at Berkeley High School until his retirement in 1969.