Track Prospects Come to Head With Informal Northeastern Meet Today

To crystallize two months of easy workout. Freshman and non-letter track men today compete in an informal dual meet with Northeastern University at Briggs Cage.

Considering the meet as good competitive experience for the first year men and those who have not won an "H", Head Coach Jaakko Mikkola starts off the meet at 2 o'clock with the 35 weight throw.

Varsity Season Prospects

Probation is the only throat to a near-brilliant team this year. On the basis of the Yale meet last spring all but one of the outstanding men in each track and field event have returned.

The sprints will miss John Calloway, who in his Senior year suddenly forged into a first class sprinter. Bill Schmidt was captain and first-ranking high-hurdler of last year's Varsity, but was incapacitated by a sprained ankle in the latter part of the season. Former Freshman Mason Fernald, in the Oxford-Cambridge meet of July 10, succeeds to the hurdling honors.

Also membered in the Class of 1937 was quarter-miler Bill O'Connor, who jockeyed with his teammates for the lead. But his vacancy lies under the shadow of Sophomore James Lightbody, who also was outstanding on July 10.

Haydock High Jumps

Thus the Varsity is little weakened by graduation. And a great amount of strength is furnished by the promotion of last year's classic Freshman team which defeated Yale the worst in the history of Harvard-Yale track. Probation, however, has developed into a definite cancer this fall. Several good men will be prevented from competing at all this year unless midyears remove the bonds. Nat Heard in the shot, pole vaulter Win Pettingell, sprinter Charlle Cretzmeyer, and quarter-miler Joe Donnelly have fallen victim to June examinations.

Bob Haydock, holder of the high jump record, is still with the team. Haydock jumped approximately his own height last May in the Dartmouth meet when he cleared 6 ft., 3 1/4 in. to set a new Harvard record. A Freshman record in the high jump was also set last year when Guill Aertsen jumped 6 ft. 1 5/8 in. Aertsen will strengthen the Varsity this year in that event.

Northrup Doubles Up

Alex Northrup, captain, is one of the best milers in the East. Hampered all last year by various illnesses, he bloomed into full flower July 10 when he was clocked at 4:19. He has several times shown himself able to double up on the mile and the half-mile. In the Yale meet he won the half in 1:55.4 after running the mile. He should well carry the banner of his team this year.

John Herrick, now playing basketball, will possibly pole vault in the winter, and will certainly be back throwing the discus in the spring. He is rated high in the East.

Sophomore personnel in the shot put have greatly strengthened this event. George Downing, back from football, is juggling with the 16 pound shot again, and Nat Heard and Howard Mendel have been throwing up to 44 feet all fall.

Another Strong Freshman Team Foreseen by Mikkola

Refusing to commit himself on more than a few individuals at such an early stage of the game, Coach Jaakko Mikkola yesterday cautiously admitted that prospects for a good Freshman track team are generally bright.

There's a fair crowd every afternoon down at Briggs Cage, but Mikkola isn't satisfied. "We could use more men in every event. We're particularly short of pole vaulters. They don't have to be experienced, but it would help if they were about six feet tall, pretty fast on their feet, and could stand on their hands."

He explained that the latter qualification was an indication of good balance.

Harriers Out

In the distance events, Mikkola has a known quantity in Robert B. Nichols, who captained the Freshman harriers, finishing first in the triangular meet with Princeton and Yale. Joseph R. McLoughlin and Charles H. Oldfather, who also showed up well in cross country, complete a trio of dependable distance men.

Making no predictions about the caliber of his sprinters and hurdlers, Mikkola admitted that Robert B. Partlow, Jr., who has been skimming the bar consistently at around six feet in practice, looked promising. He named Theodore L. Tewksbury, Jr., as a strong possibility in the shot put.