"They're the first undefeated freshman cross country team since at least 1920," said Coach Bill McCurdy. That's as far back as official records go.

In the opener of its six-meet schedule, the '57 squad defeated Providence College, 21 to 34. Providence later won the New England Freshman Intercollegiates, which the Crimson did not enter.

Boston University and Brown fell by 23 and 21 points before '57 avenged the '56, squad's only cross country defeat, sweeping the first nine places and downing the University of Massachusetts by a perfect 15 to 50 score.

In their closest meet score-wise, the Yardlings tripped Dartmouth, 26 to 33, despite the fact that the Green placed runners first and second. The Crimson took the next four positions.

Finishing up against Yale and Princeton in a triangular meet, the Yardling squad licked both, although the Tiger Cubs had been touted as Princeton's best since 1949. A Princetonian led the field in that meet and a Princetonian finished seventh, but the Yardlings placed five men between the two Tigers to retain the Big Three freshman title. And all five men finished within 17 seconds of each other. The score was Harvard 20, Princeton 39, Yale 77.

Peak in Big Three Meet

The Yardling's strength, evident in all their meets, was thus at its best against Princeton and Yale. The Crimson squad had no standouts. It was a well-balanced team that had plenty of depth and ran and placed in a group.

Of those who won their numerals, Captain Billy Morris had two first places three seconds and a third. Dave McLean finished first once, second three times, and third twice. But Dick Wharton, Jimmy Cairns, Phil Williams, and Dick Norris were always immediately behind to fill up the Crimson's other scoring positions. Combined with Don Yacoshyn and Bob Holmes, they left opposing runners only the high-scoring positions.

McCurdy hopes the Yardlings will be of help next fall, since he will lose the bulk of his varsity by graduation. Out of the seven men taken to the Heptagonals, only three will be back in '54. Of the "scoring five" the Crimson will lose three: the first and second finishes, Hal Gerry and Hubie Maguire, and the three-four alternate, Emil San Soucie. "1957 will make or break the varsity next year," said McCurdy.

Look Promising

By the coach's philosophy, they'll probably make it. "Cross country running is mainly a test of endurance. Not so much the physical kind, but the mental toughness to go ahead when you're tired. The ones that ran here were awfully determined. Not the fastest in the world, but hard to lick." In fact, they licked everybody else. "They've done quite a job."