Thinclads to Open Season Against B.C.; Freshmen Add Depth and Versatility

The versatility and depth are unquestionable. It will be the attitude and luck that decide of the Harvard men's track team will have a succesful season. With added strength in almost every area of competition the Crimson should improve on last year a 3-2 mars fifth-place finish at the Heptagonal Championships

"We have people who can score highly in nearly every event," Coach Frank Haggerty said yesterday "There's no reason why we shouldn't do well it's just a matter of having the team realize that"

For the first time in a number of years, graduation has not left the thinclads depleted. Most of last year's letter winners are back, and the three large holes left by the June festivities look to be filed by seven freshmen who should develop into consistent performers if early indicators hold true.

If the squad is going to live up to Haggerty's expectations, it has to remain injury-free a feat that escaped the Crimson a year ago. Haggerty's program of pre-workout yoga exercise and careful attention to warm-ups have kept down the injuries to distance runners during the cross-country season, and he is hopping the program will continue to effective as the runners move indoors.

As in the past, the thinclad's major strength should be in the jumping events Both Captain Gus Udo and Jimmy Johnson are back competing in the long jump and should continue to dominate their Ivy opposition Senior Mark Henry will be competing in the high jump, where he will be joined by freshmen Doug Boyd, who has cleared 6 ft 8 in. in a practice leap

Despite the graduation of Captain Dave Randall, the pole vaulting corps should be even stronger than last year with the addition of two talented Canadians. The freshmen duo of Rudy Buntik and Steve Pinney have cleared heights over 16 ft and 15 ft respectively.

The only field events that may be weaker are the weight throw and shotput. Junior Tom Schuler and senior Al Quintero will be competing, but the loss of Captain Lanny Tron to graduation will be felt.

In the shorter distances, Haggerty--in his first year in the top spot--will depend on senior Jay Hudson, Bernard Goodwin, and Vincent Ho Hudson is coming off a very good season and looks quicker in training than a year ago.

In the middle distances, the team's depth and versatility are readily visible. In the 500, All-Ivy nose guard Scott Murrer and Sophomore Steve Ezeji-Okoye are an almost unbeatable combination, while Dwayne Jones should continue his winning ways in the 400.

In the 800, 1000 and 1500, Haggerty has Brad Bunney, who went to the NCAAs last year. Cliff Sheehan, Bob Higgins, Eric Schuler and freshmen Paul Kent, all of whom can be shuffled to meet the fledgling coach's needs. Also, All-American Adam Dixon, who was injured almost all of last year, may return in February.

Cross country standouts Andy Regan, Paul McNulty, freshman Paul Gompers and junior Felix Rippey will move their distance act indoors for the 3000 and 2 mile to round out the track events.

The thinclads open their season this evening at 6 p.m. at the ITT against Boston Colleges. Although the Eagles have never beaten the Crimson, the meet is usually close.

"Every year B.C. swears that this will be the year it beats Harvard and leaves swearing it will beat us the next," Haggerty said. "Well, this year they're claiming that this is the year, but we'll see about that tonight.