Ailing Tracksters Stomp B.C., 95-14

Despite a plague of injuries that has dogged the team all fall, the Harvard men's track team pulled together Saturday and ripped Boston College, 95-14, at the ITT.

Before the meet began, captain Marc Chapus has to bow out of his events because of injuries. The withdrawal prompted teammate Dave Frim to say to coach Bill McCurdy just before the proceedings opened, "Things just don't look so good." But, as McCurdy recalled afterwards, "That was the last word of gloom I heard that evening."

As a symbol of the team's unity, three Harvard runners--Eric Schuler, Felix Rippy and John Murphy--joined together at the finish line of the 3000-meter run and registered a triple victory in 8:37.7.

That's right, John Murphy. The veteran senior. Whose time for the mile run had been hovering near four minutes before a series of injuries sidelined him, has attempted another comeback, and this one has began with unexpected success.

But Murph wasn't the only runner who feasted at the Eagles' though. In addition to the 3000, the Crimson came up with two other one-two-three sweeps.

In the 400 meters, Bennett Midlo took first in 50.09 and Kim Stephens and Scott Murrer followed. Adam Dixon won the 1500 in 3:52.1, with Buck Logan and Paul McNulty in tow.

And the three sweeps were but one quarter of Harvard's 12 out of a possible 16 victories. The tracksters also captured second in the four events they didn't win outright.

Ryan Lamppa's victory in the 800 meters was characteristic of the glad tidings for Harvard. Lamppa, who had just missed his opponent at the wire in his last meet, won by a hair Saturday in 1:54.57.

Coach McCurdy was equally impressed by several other improved performances. Sophomore Alec Quintero upped his personal best in the 35-lb. weight throw by three feet. And Greg Froehlich cleared 13 ft. 6 in. to capture his first varsity pole vaulting win.

The team's performance, McCurdy said, bodes well for the tracksters' January 10 confrontation with rival Northeastern.