Harriers Win Big Three Title At Yale As Colburn Earns New Course Record

(Special to the CRIMSON)

NEW HAVEN, Oct. 31-Although there was no one to push him during the last mile. Keith Colburn broke the record for the Yale course by eighteen seconds this afternoon to lead his team to a seventh straight Big Three title.

Sophomore Mike Koerner and junior Dave Pottetti followed their captain to earn second and third before a trio of Princeton harriers crossed the finish line. The first Yale runner was Karl Fields. who came in 13th.

Harvard, by beating the Tigers. 22-35, and Yale. 15-50. completed a third successive undefeated season. The two victories also stretched the university record for consecutive dual-meet triumphs to 31.

The Crimson asserted itself immediately when Roy Shaw. who had been out with a pulled hamstring, took an early lead with a fast pace. With him were Colburn. Koerner, and three Princeton men-Rich Stafford, Eamon Downey, and Tom Yunek. But Shaw started to fold on the first hill and fell back. Colburn went ahead.

After the first one-and-a-half mile loop, the pace began to wear down Downey and Yunek. Colburn and Koerner, with help from John Heyburn, then tried to break Stafford.

Heyburn began to fall back, but Pottetti. who had started cautiously, began to catch several runners exhausted by the fast pace. It was the first time that the opening loop has ever been run in less than seven minutes.

After three and a half miles. Stafford started to fade while Harvard's top two moved out and Pottetti went after Stafford. Shortly. Colburn opened up a forty-yard lead on Koerne and was never again challenged.

At about the same time. Pottetti. who has had a disappointing season. passed Stafford. The Princeton harrier tried to catch him with a half mile left, but Pottetti fought off the challenge, and with a strong finishing kick closed the fifty-yard gap between himself and Koerner to miss second place by a stride.

Harvard's next finisher was Heyburn, who was seventh. Dennis O'Brien of Princeton was eighth followed by three Harvard runners-Erik Roth. Shaw, and Howie-Foye.

Princeton ran somewhat better than expected, but it could not place Downey and Stafford ahead of Harvard's top men, and the outcome was never in doubt. Colburn, who said that the early pace did not seem extremely fast, broke a record of 21:53 set last year by Yale's Frank Shorter.

Pottetti's performance was particularly encouraging since his return to top form can make a big difference in the upcoming Heptagonals, ICAA's and the NCAA's. "I've felt really strong in my last three races, and have had something left at the end." Pottetti said after finishing today.

"I planned to let everyone go out ahead of me, and then have them fall back to me. All I need now is confidence," Pottetti explained. "The pancakes I had this morning bothered me." he added.

The undefeated Crimson freshmen were even more successful. Led by captain Tom New, a whole group of Yardlings moved out to an early lead, and none of the opposition ever came near.

Bunch Up

New. George Barker. and John Quirk, who had a great finishing kick. crossed the line tightly bunched in that order, all easily breaking the course record.

Within forty-seven seconds another four Yardlings finished to complete the sweep of both opponents. All seven ran faster than this year's seniors did in the freshman Big Three in 1966.

Finishing fourth through seventh were Mark Connolly. Dave Elliott. Marshall Jones, and Jeffrey Brokaw.