The varsity track team is working for an undefeated season this year, and the chances seem good that it will have one. Boasting strength and depth in the field events and in track races from the 330 up, the squad is clearly the best in recent years, and potentially the best in Harvard's history.
"I think we could develop into the strongest team Harvard's ever had," Fred Howard, the team captain, says. Howard, currently sporting a suntan as a result of the team's spring training trip to Puerto Rico, ran the half-mile in 1:52.0 last year to set the University record. He is one of four team members currently holding Harvard records. "Right now, we're a good team," he noted. "But with sufficient teamwork, we could become far more effective."
Whether or not the track team will develop its potential remains to be seen, but there are encouraging signs. Injuries and sickness, which have in recent years hurt the team seriously, have improved, rather than developed, so far this spring. During the winter, hopes for a good outdoor season were dimmed with the injury of the versatile Tom Blodgett, who pulled a thigh muscle at the Army meet last February. Blodgett can be, at various times, the team's best hurdler, broad jumper pole valuter and javelin thrower, and the squad is tremendously dependent upon him. Reports that Blodgett had recovered were confirmed in the outdoor Army meet Saturday. When he collected four firsts in five events.
Another question mark at the start of the season was Mark Mullin, holder of the University record for the mile at 4:10.6. Mullin was sick for the indoor Yale meet, and this was one of the key factors in the Crimson loss. He ran strongly against Army, however, winning the mile easily in 4:15.9.
For the members of the team, there is no question that this year's big opponent will be Yale. Yale is building up its team to be the best in the east; the Bulldogs beat a weakened indoor Crimson squad earlier this year. "We can beat them outdoors," commented one runner. "But it's going to be a lot of sweat all the way."
Sweat is something Crimson coach Bill McCurdy approves of. McCurdy, a lean, crewcut man, prides himself in his fitness. "You've always got to watch out for him," said one team member. "He's incredible, he's likely to run a 54 second quarter against you, just to make you feel funny. And he can beat any man on the team in calisthenics."
Probably the greatest strength of McCurdy's team lies in the field, where the Crimson is weak in only one event, the high jump. In the shot put, there are three good men--Rick DeLone (the Harvard record holder at 53 ft., 9 in.), Sarge Nichols, and Steve Cohen. The hammer is equally strong, with University record holder Stan Doten (197 ft., 11 in.), Ted Bailey, and Roger Wilson, all of whom could potentially throw over 200 feet this year.
Top man in the discus is John Bronstein, who should better the 160-foot mark again this year. Doten should also pick up some points in the event.
The broad jump should be a good event for the Crimson, which can point to four men who have jumped over 23 feet. Along with Blodgett in this event are Marty Beckwith,
Albright, and "Zik" Azikiwe. a sophomore, has tremend natural spring but as yet impact form, which prevents him being as consistent as he .Azikiwe is also an excellent hop, and jump man, and is favored to win the Heptagonal at this year. (The hop skip and is not and event in dual meets at this time.)The pole vault and javelin throw somewhat less strong. Both depend upon Blodgett. Blodgett is the pole vaulter on the team by two feet; last year he 13 ft., 9 in., and hopefully will pass 14 ft. this season. In javelin throw, he and Tom the best Crimson men, and or both may throw 200 feet coming events. high jump is definitely weak. her Beckwith nor Tony Leness consistent 6 ft. jumper. The boast two jumpers clearing 6 in. track events, Mark Mullin a group of excellent one-and- while runners, with his chief sort coming for Jed Fitzgerald Ed Hamlin. There are several people half-milers to follow How- Harry Rich and Gus Schuma- have both looked good in practice.The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
Azikiwe is also an excellent hop, and jump man, and is favored to win the Heptagonal at this year. (The hop skip and is not and event in dual meets at this time.)The pole vault and javelin throw somewhat less strong. Both depend upon Blodgett. Blodgett is the pole vaulter on the team by two feet; last year he 13 ft., 9 in., and hopefully will pass 14 ft. this season. In javelin throw, he and Tom the best Crimson men, and or both may throw 200 feet coming events. high jump is definitely weak. her Beckwith nor Tony Leness consistent 6 ft. jumper. The boast two jumpers clearing 6 in. track events, Mark Mullin a group of excellent one-and- while runners, with his chief sort coming for Jed Fitzgerald Ed Hamlin. There are several people half-milers to follow How- Harry Rich and Gus Schuma- have both looked good in practice.The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
The pole vault and javelin throw somewhat less strong. Both depend upon Blodgett. Blodgett is the pole vaulter on the team by two feet; last year he 13 ft., 9 in., and hopefully will pass 14 ft. this season. In javelin throw, he and Tom the best Crimson men, and or both may throw 200 feet coming events. high jump is definitely weak. her Beckwith nor Tony Leness consistent 6 ft. jumper. The boast two jumpers clearing 6 in. track events, Mark Mullin a group of excellent one-and- while runners, with his chief sort coming for Jed Fitzgerald Ed Hamlin. There are several people half-milers to follow How- Harry Rich and Gus Schuma- have both looked good in practice.The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
high jump is definitely weak. her Beckwith nor Tony Leness consistent 6 ft. jumper. The boast two jumpers clearing 6 in. track events, Mark Mullin a group of excellent one-and- while runners, with his chief sort coming for Jed Fitzgerald Ed Hamlin. There are several people half-milers to follow How- Harry Rich and Gus Schuma- have both looked good in practice.The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
track events, Mark Mullin a group of excellent one-and- while runners, with his chief sort coming for Jed Fitzgerald Ed Hamlin. There are several people half-milers to follow How- Harry Rich and Gus Schuma- have both looked good in practice.The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
The sprints, the prospects are . The quarter mile isn't too Larry Repsher, Don Kirkland, have Nawl all ran sub-50 indoors. The 100 and 220 every thin, however. The Crimson Frank "Weaver" Yeomans, nobody else. are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
are brighter in the thanks again to Blodgett. Blodgett has smooth form and good and should win most of his Backing him up will be Hank who has improved a lot since . Hatch took a second and on the 220 low and 120 high at Army. mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
mile relay unit looked poor Army and must improve if Crimson hopes to beat Yale, conditions, the team its time to $16.0, and possible that such a time needed to win the Yale meet. the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
the Crimson has so many a team may be sent to Relays on April 28 and a crack at the America for the four-mile relay. listed records of 16:52.3 lowered as much as three seconds by a Harvard squad (4:10.6), Fitzgerald (4:10.8), (4:11.7), and Hamlin (4:15
