One afternoon last week three freshmen in sweat suits paused to watch a pair of crack runners on the track at Soldiers Field, studying the form of the big man in the NYAC garb and his slightly smaller companion wearing H.A.A. insignia.

They may have been watching a future Olympic champion, for the bigger runner was Tom Courtney, one of the U.S.A.'s entrants in the 800 meter run. The man with him was one of Harvard's greatest track and field men ever, the 1955 captain, Bob Rittenburg.

The duo, both privates first class in the Army, were completing a series of workouts to prepare Courtney for the Melbourne Olympics next month. They had been training here for several weeks on special assignment from the Army.

Rittenburg's function was to aid Courtney's training. The former Crimson ace would have been preparing himself, too, except that he came in fifth in the final of the Olympic 400-meter hurdle trial last summer, after winning the event at the Armed Services championships.

It was through Rittenburg and Coach Bill McCurdy that Courtney came here to train. Rittenburg was a teammate of Courtney's at Fort Dix and later, on the First Army team.

McCurdy, an officer in the Active Reserve, became acquainted with Courtney when the former served a two-week hitch as coach on that First Army team this summer. Courtney praised the University's track facilities as "excellent," and said that was another reason for his practicing here.

Coach McCurdy disclaims credit for coaching Courtney, saying he has done "very little" with him. But Courtney disagrees, arguing that it is important to him "to have a coach around when running, to give advice occasionally."

Courtney was happy with the training facilities, and McCurdy was quite happy to have him here. The coach contends that he didn't give Courtney as much help as he got for his team, through the example Courtney provided.

Some Crimson runners, notably French Anderson, last year's Heptagonal indoor 600-yard titlist, have worked out with Courtney. Besides that, McCurdy notes the big advantage in having his team watch Courtney, seeing "what a real champion does in the way of work."

McCurdy thinks that Courtney will add another championship to his list at Melbourne. He said the Fordham graduate, who placed first in the Olympic trials, "has much more speed now than he did while in college." "With training, he could be equally good in the quarter-mile or even the mile," the coach added.

Courtney is now out on the West Coast training with the rest of the squad, as it participates in various practice meets, and the man he most fears is his teammate, Arnie Sowell.

For Rittenburg, however, this week sent him back to the less exhilarating confines of regular duty at the Boston Army Base. He still gets out to Soldiers Field to run, but not so frequently.