Trackmen Finish Fourth in IC4A's; 4 Weightmen Supply Team's Scores

The Harvard track team finished fourth in the IC4A's at Philadelphia Saturday, getting all its points from four weightmen. Ron Wilson. Bruce Hedendahl, Charlie Ajootian, and Dick Benka.

Villanova won the meet easily with Maryland second and Rutgers third.

Ajootian took third in the hammer and a non-scoring sixth in the shot. Wilson placed-fifth in the hammer and second in the discus, while Hedendahl got third in the discus. Captain-elect Dick Benka lost his first shot put event of the year, finishing a disappointing second to St. John's George Allen.

In the running events, Harvard got no points despite two strong performances by Jim Baker and Doug Hardin. Baker lopped two more seconds off his university mile record, but his 4:00.2 performance was good only for sixth behind Villanovan Dave Patrick's winning 3.56.8. Patrick's time is the best ever in Eastern competition.

Hardin

In the three mile, junior Doug Hardin, normally a two-miler, forced the pace for the first ten laps before tiring badly with half a mile left. Hardin's time for the first two miles, 8:54, was the best he has done for the distance this spring. Georgetown's Steve Stageberg won the event in meet record time.

Baker was a front-runner in the mile, fighting for the lead over the first three quarters with Villanova's Charlie Messenger and Frank Murphy. With one lap to go. Baker was a step behind Murphy in 3:00.7.

Patrick kicked early, pulling Murphy along and then most of the field roared past the wiry Englishman. Baker's last lap was fast but couldn't compete with Patrick's amazing 55.4.

Ajootian's Hammer

Ajootian's performance in the hammer must rank with Baker's as Harvard's best of the meet. The former National High School shot put champion from Rhode Island threw 193 feet, his top throw--by six feet--this year.

Benka's second place put in the shot, 55' 11 1/2", was three feet under his Harvard record and 14 inches behind St. John's's Allen.

Exam Conflicts

Harvard undoubtedly suffered from exam period-itis. Not only was Benka below form, but exam conflicts kept four stars--Jeff Huvelle, Dave McKelvey, Trey Burns and Roy Shaw--in Cambridge.