Ronald Howard "Ron" Whitney (born October 5, 1942) is a retired American hurdler and sprinter.

[1] He had entered the race as one of the favorites,[2] having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 [3] and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second time earlier that year.

He also had won bronze two years earlier[5] and while competing for Occidental College, where he was coached by Jim Bush, was runner up at the NCAA Championships in 1963.

At Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California,[7] Whitney was the champion at the 1960 Golden West Invitational, the equivalent of a national champion, at 800 m,[8] a week after finishing fourth in the CIF California State Meet in the same event.

[10] Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head track and field coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.