Women Thwart Yale, Fall to Princeton

Princeton's Lynn Jennings scorched a record-shattering path across Franklin Park yesterday and led the Tigers to a victory in the Big Three meet, downing second place Harvard and third place Yale.

A sophomore and winner of this event last year, Jennings finished the course in 16:20, 50 seconds ahead of her nearest rival and 27 seconds ahead of the record set last week by Bowdoin's Joan Benoit.

The Crimson, wracked by injuries to two top runners--freshman Darlene Beckford and sophomore Paula Newnham--gamely hung on to best the Elis, 24-37. In the three-way totals, Princeton romped easily, 17 points to Harvard's 53 and Yale's 62.

Junior Joanna Forman, the Crimson's top finisher, covered the 5000-meter (3.1 mile) course in 17:24, good for fifth place. Sophomore Kristin Linsley took ninth for Harvard in 18:19, and senior captain Karla Amble grabbed 13th in 18:50.

Amble said after the meet of Jenning's awesome performance: "When I looked up at the half-mile mark and saw the lead she had, it was amazing. She was just about out of sight.

In addition to Jennings, the Tigers had six of the top ten finishers, a balanced performance that prompted the Harvard harriers to admire their rival's impressive attack.

"Princeton moved as a bunch and their grouping was too good," Amble said, adding, "We moved as a pack and helped each other, but Princeton was just too far ahead."

Forman's time was her best ever on the Franklin Park course by a significant margin, and she said afterwards, "It's hard to run my best time and come in fifth."

Crimson Coach Pappy Hunt commended the performances of his charges, marveling at the talent of the visitors from New Jersey. "Our performances today were our best of the year time-wise." he said. "Princeton is just good. They were number two last year in the east and they're even better this year--even stronger than I thought.

"Princeton and Penn State are a toss-up for the best team in the east," Hunt added.

Crowned Greater Boston Champions earlier this season, Harvard will have a chance to prove itself against the vaunted Nittany Lions next Sunday when the squad travels to the AIAW Eastern Championships in West Chester, Pa.

The following week the team will participate in the Ivy Championships at Penn and a re-match with Jennings and the voracious Tigers.

Big Three Championships

Princeton 23, Harvard 52, Yale 62 at Franklin Park, Mass. 5000 Meters

1. Jennings (P) 16:20, new course record; 2. Ulian (Y) 17:10; 3. Schulte (P) 17:11; 4. Thompson (P) 17:22; 5. Forman (H) 17:24; 6. Strauss (Y) 17:42; 7. Zollo (P) 17:52; 8. Briody (P) 18:17; 9. Linsley (H) 18:19; 10. Ginder (P) 18:27; 11. McClarnand (P) 18:36; 12. Taylor (H) 18:48; 13. Amble (H) 18:50; 14. Bressler (P) 18:54; 15. Voit (H) 18:55; 16. Warren (H) 18:59; 17. Goldburg (P) 18:59; 18. Diaz (H) 19:02; 19. Stowe (Y) 19:13; 20. Clabby (H) 19:21; 21. Frasca (Y) 19:28; 22. Saada (P) 19:28; 23. Quackenbos (P) 19:34; 24. Jacobson (H) 19:35; 25. Kerr (P) 19:38.