Jaakko Mikkola is now in his 31st and last year of coaching track at the College. Like any coach, he'd like nothing better than to bow out with an undefeated season. Unlike most most coaches, it appears that he has a good chance of attaining this goal.

This year's track team has outstanding men in almost every event. It has a good deal of depth, particularly in some of the running events. If a few men develop to provide a little additional depth in several weak events, there's no reason why this team shouldn't sweep all its dual meets. Yet the members of the track team don't feel a sweep will be sufficient. In recent years, the Crimson has seldom shown to advantage in the big meets--the Heptagonal Championships, for example. This year's group wants to do some heavy scoring in these big meets. There's no reason why they shouldn't.

Captain Bill Geick appears to be top man in two events, the dash and broad Jump. Since Dick Welskopf won't be sprinting this year and Pete Curran is at present slowed up with several injuries, Geick has moved into the top position. Sophomore Pete Dow, who managed to make the London trip last year as a freshman, and Norm Gougen appear most likely to give support, while Bob Twitchell might shape up as a sprinter before the season is over.

Twitchell, however, will spend most of his time on the hurdles and along with Charlie Durakis should provide a strong one-two combination. Football wingback John Ederer will probably be out this year and may provide even more depth.

Mikkola is faced with a real problem in the middle distances. He has too many good men. Ronnie Berman and Ed Grutzner are capable of beating any college runner in the East in the 600. Berman will get a crack at the top men in the Knights of Columbus meet early in January, while Grutzner will enter the B.A.A. 600 two weeks later. Mikkola's suocint comment of their chances is "they both can win." These two standouts are backed by John Packard, Tom McGrath, Phil Meyers, last year's freshman captain Paul Sheats, and Guido Perera. Any one of these five is a potential scorer.

The 1000 is probably the most uncertain of the running events. Jim Downey is top man so far, with Dave Little and Bill Montague as chief competitors. Shifting of men from the shorter distances, however, may scramble this picture.

The mile finds Dave Cairns back to provide more sure points for the team. Cairns is capable of bettering 4:20 and easily ranks with the top distance runners in this area. Last year's freshman star, Hugh Maguire, appears to be the only backing Cairns is capable of bettering 4:20 and easily ranks with the top distance runners in cross country.

Dave Gregory is set for his best season in the two mile. The six-foot-three cross country captain should pile up quite a few first place points, and what with sophomores Hal Gerry and Emil San Soucie and senior Steve Sharp showing well so far, Jaakko expects this to be one of the team's strongest events.

The field events appear somewhat weaker. Bob Mello is around to lead the pole vaulters and give support to Geick in the broad jump. Bob Ray should come close to clearing 50 feet in the shot put, while Dick Barwise will be assaulting the high jump record again this year. But aside from these individuals, the field events appear to lack necessary depth.

The 35 pound weight event is weak. The track team has been stripped by graduation of almost all its experienced weightmen. Pete Curran and Dwight Black are the men Mikkola will have to depend on to come along. Curran has shown he can throw in the high forties, while Black showed great promise before becoming ineligible after his freshman year. Other possibilities in this event are Dirk Walecka and George Osgoodby.

The pole vault and shot put appear to be the next weakest events. Aside from Mello, there is no vaulter on the team now capable of clearing 12 feet. Only Ed Jacobson, freshman vaulter last year, and Bob Gonzales show any possibilities of developing as needed support.

After Ray, the shotputters lack a really strong second man. This problem should be eliminated in February, when Gll Murray, freshman sensation last year, will probably be able to participate.

The high jump provides a brighter picture. Barwise will have able supporters in Ty Smith, Brian Reynolds, and Don Whitehead, any one of whom is capable of clearing six feet.

Jaakko is hesitant to go out on a limb over this, his last team. He sees some weaknesses. Nevertheless, he's set his sights high. He wants to finish his coaching with a season to remember.