Underdog Cross Country Squad Upsets Powerful Big Red, 26-29

A dramatic comeback performance by Ed Hamlin led the varsity cross country team to a 26-29 upset victory over Cornell Saturday at Franklin Park. The Crimson, hobbled by injuries, came through with a solid team effort to defeat the toughest opponent on its schedule.

Hamlin, hampered by an inflamed Achilles tendon, was running third at the two-mile mark, when a stitch forced him to drop out of the race. As Crimson hopes plummeted--for a victory without Hamlin was impossible--Hamlin recovered and set out after the pack. He eventually finished seventh, in a courageous effort.

As expected, Steve Machooka of Cornell was the individual winner. Machooka broke away on a downhill stretch half a mile from the start and triumphed by about 200 yards in 25:06, a new Franklin Park record.

Crimson captain Mark Mullin ran 25:51, his second best time ever on the five-mile course, to take second, and sophomore Eddie Meehan came in third at 26:05. Ray Westendorp, the Cornell captain, was fourth, followed by teammate Jim Byard.

But the Crimson's Bob Knapp finished sixth, in his best showing as a varsity performer, and Hamlin took seventh. Greg Baldwin contributed an eighth-place finish to sew up the Crimson victory. Two Cornell runners filled the ninth and tenth slots.

Yardling John Ogden took first in the three-mile freshman race, as the Crimson downed Cornell, 19 to 44. Arnold Carey of Cornell came in second, but Yardling runners took third through eight. An indication of encouraging depth was the fact that the eighth-place Yardling was less than a minute behind Ogden.