Cindermen Open Season April 12

The varsity track team will be counting on the weight men and distance runners to supply much of its strength.

The Crimson has many reasons to be optimistic about the weight events, and one of the biggest is captain Dick Benka, shot-putter supreme. This winter, Benka went undefeated in dual meets, was IC4A and Heptagonal champion, and took fourth place in the NCAA indoor championships.

Benka is definitely not a one-man show in the weight events, however, and Charlie Ajootian and Ed Nosal will be around to prove it. In addition to backing up Benka in the shot, Ajootian and Nosal should be the Crimson's contenders in the hammer throw.

In the discus, Benka and Bruce Hedendal will be the top men. Both have thrown consistently in the 160 ft. range last year. Nosal, who hit the upper 150 ft. bracket last year, could also be a threat.

Javelin Strong

Harvard record-holder Dave Bernstein and former record-holder Frank Champi, along with sophomore Richie Szaro, should make the javelin throwers potentially the best in Harvard history.

The distance events will be manned by a strong nucleus of returning stars plus an outstanding group of sophomores.

Royce Shaw, bothered by the flu during the winter season, should be a top threat in the mile and half-mile runs, along with sophomore Jon Enscoe. In the two-mile, Harvard record-holder Doug Hardin and freshman record-holder Dave Pottetti should provide a strong one-two punch.

Keith Colburn, recovered from persistent injuries, is the Crimson's leading half-miler. He will be backed up by sophomore John Gorham, Shaw, and Enscoe.

Ben Lounsbury and John Metzger should be the mainstays of a thin group of hurdlers, but if Walter Johnson recovers from winter injuries, he should be the top high hurdler.

Jumpers Shallow

Lack of depth will be the main problem in the jumping events and pole vault. Noel Hare is the only healthy broad jumper, while Pete Lazarus and Jim Coleman face the same situation in the vault and high jump. If Johnson overcomes his injuries, he will be the top contender in the triple jump.