Harvard Favored in GBC; Coach Sees New Records

Record - setting performances in at least three events should highlight the two-day Greater Boston Colleges indoor track meet which gets underway in Harvard's "bubble" tonight. The Crimson thinclads are heavily favored to retain the team championship over six area rivals.

Harvard Coach Bill McCurdy went out on a limb to predict new records in the 60-yard dash, the 60-yard hurdles, and the 440--all new events in the GBC meet. Boston College runners are slight favorites in the hurdles and dash, but Harvard sophomore Walt Johnson may return to prominence in the hurdles. Chris Alvord and John Schneider could provide a challenge in the dash. Steve Wimberly will lead the Crimson contingent in the quarter-mile.

Sharp competition could push the winner of the 600 under the record time of 1:12. Harvard's John Gillis, B.C.'s Mark Murray, and Northeastern's Mike Roberts have all carded respectable times this season. Murray will be seeking revenge for two narrow losses to Gillis in the Knights of Columbus and Boston Athletic Association meets.

Crimson ace Keith Colburn, who clocked the fastest collegiate 1000 of the season several weeks ago, will by-pass the GBC's to run his specialty in an open meet in New York. His roommates Royce Shaw and Erik Roth will substitute in the 1000 with Shaw aiming to double-up in the mile. B.U.'s Pete Hoss and Northeastern's Larry Joseph will also be shooting for the mile record of 4:15.4, posted by Shaw in last year's meet.

Sophomore Dave Pottetti is expected to battle with MIT's Ben Wilson for top laurels in the two-mile. Wilson likes to set a fast, steady pace, and the meet record of 9:06.6 should fall. Doug Hardin, who set the record last year, will be competing again after a three-month layoff. Hardin has been hobbled by knee and calf injuries and will probably run cautiously.

Tonight's schedule includes trials in the high jump, long jump, pole vault, and middle distances. Both trials and finals will take place in the weight events, with the shot put featured at 8:30. Harvard captain Dick Benka will square off in the circle against Northeastern record-holder Andy Kenney. Benka tossed the sphere 61'5 1/2" against the Huskies three weeks ago, but has not been over sixty feet since then. Kenney has made steady progress and won the NEAAU title with a heave of 57'11" last Wednesday.

Bruce Hedendal and Charlie Ajootian are good bets for additional Harvard points. The meet record should also fall in the 35-pound weight throw, scheduled for 7:00 in Briggs Cage. Ajootian, one of the best weight men in Harvard history, is the heavy favorite, with Northeastern's Don Cybulski battling with Ed Nosal and Doug Griswold for the backup slots.