Harriers To Seek Big 3 Title Against Yale, Princeton Today

Harvard's greatest cross country team will try to conclude an undefeated regular season campaign this afternoon at Franklin Park against Big Three rivals Yale and Princeton. Cross country isn't usually one of this University's more popular attractions, but if you have some time to spare, this will be worth watching.

Led by the wiry British captain Jim Baker, Greater Boston individual champion, Harvard has demolished seven straight dual meet opponents and last Tuesday rallied in the last two miles to win the Greater Boston Championships over five other area teams.

Walking Wounded

In the GBC's five of Harvard's usual seven top men either didn't start the race or weren't around for the finish. But today, inspired by Coach Bill McCurdy's matchless psyching, all the walking wounded are raring to go.

Sophomore star Roy Shaw, hobbled by leg injuries several weeks ago, said last night that he, Keith Colburn, Doug Hardin, Tim McLoone, and Bob Stempson will definitely run. As for his long layoff, Shaw explained, "Roger Bannister took a week off before he broke the four minute barrier in the mile, so with a month's rest I should be extra ready."

Scouting reports on Yale and Princeton would indicate that he, and the others better be ready. At the start of the season McCurdy saw Princeton as his strongest Ivy challenger, but comparative scores have shown Yale to be an even stronger outfit.

McCurdy said that both the Tigers and the Eli have a few strong men, but that their depth is questionable. In Yale's last race over their home course, Frank Shorter, Steve Bittner, Bob Yahn and Carl Pierce all broke the 4.45 mile course record. It is possible that the Blue may have some trouble with Harvard's 5.3 mile layout.

Princeton has two proven runners, captain Al Andreini and Tilden Reeder, and a couple of improving sophomores, Rich Stafford and Eamon Downey. But, unlike Harvard, the Tigers don't have much beyond their first few men.

All this week, McCurdy has been working on the team's already sky-high morale, getting them as emotionally up as possible. Yesterday he handed out red and white beanies to the team, and he has kept their Dillon Field House locker oom festooned with inspiring posters.

Both Harvard and Yale have run at Dartmouth and, naturally, the race prognosticators have compared times. Running without four of the top seven, Harvard's team compiled times which would have lost to the full-strength Yale varsity by a scant point. But, as noted, everyone is running for the Crimson today.

In the freshman meet, Harvard's Dave Pottetti will seek to finish the regular season undefeated, with the help of rapidly improving Tom Spangler, the Yardlings have lost only once--to Northeasthern--and they avenged that defeat in their GBC victory Tuesday.

Franklin Park is located near Roxbury, off Blue Hill Avenue. It's not hard to find, takes only 20 minutes by car, and you'll have a chance to see one of Harvard's finest athletic teams.

A bus will be leaving Dillon Field House at 2 p.m. for anyone interested in riding out to Franklin Park for the meet.