Providence Challenges Runners Here Today; Injury Slows Hewlett

Walt Hewlett, Dave Allen, and a bunch of sophomores will take on Providence in Franklin Park this morning in the Crimson's first cross-country meet of the year.

Providence comes to Boston with about the same squad that handed Harvard one of its two defeats last season. So we'll just hope that the new runners on the Crimson team are better than the ones they've replaced.

No matter who wins, it will be fun to watch Hewlett. Winner of all his regular-season races last year, two times an All-America performer, he is one of the best of Harvard's athletes. Walt hurt his back in training, but he must be favored to hold off Providence's formidable Barry Brown.

Allen, captain of the Harvard squad, blossomed at the end of last year, and, according to coach Bill McCurdy, is ready to pick up right where he left off. After Allen come the sophomores -- Bob Stempson, Jim Baker, Joe Ryan. Tray Burns, and Bill Wilson.

Brown is the best of the invaders, but he has some reputable friends too. Bob Powers and Paul Harris beat all the Crimson runners last year except Hewlett (and then-captain Bill Crain).

Gerry Riordan, a senior, didn't run against Harvard last year, but he's about as good as Powers and Harris. Providence doesn't have much to show for a number five man, but they may not need one.

Baker and Stempson were the front men on last season's undefeated freshman team and should take varsity competition in stride. Ryan didn't run last fall but has looked good in pre-season training.

Today's meet could tell the story of the next two weeks for the Crimson. After Providence come Northeastern and Brown, two of the toughies on the Harvard schedule.