Advertisement

Trackmen Rip Huskies, End N.U.'s Win Streak

Harvard's varsity trackmen slaughtered Northeastern last Friday night, 79-30, smashing the Huskies' record of 33 straight dual meet victories.

The Crimson's Steve Schoonover set a new Harvard record for the pole vault by jumping 14' 8", just an inch and a half above his record of the week before.

Before coming to Harvard, the Northeastern track team had not been beaten in a dual meet since a one-point loss to the University of Maine in 1963. To win Harvard thought it had to pick up points in the later events, the weights and the broad jump, but instead found itself in a commanding lead immediately.

Goliaths Sweep

The Crimson weightmen swept the shot put and the 35 pound weight for a quick 18 points. Sophomore Dick Benka threw 53' 3/4" for first place in the shot, while Charlie Ajootian and Bruce Hedendal placed second and third, both with throws of 52' 1 1/2". In the 35 pound weight, Ron Wilson hurled to the 56' 1/2" mark with Charlie Ajootian finishing second and Gene Mazel third.

Advertisement

Harvard chalked up a first and a third in the broad jump. Junior Mark Johnson leaped to a respectable 22' 2 1/4" for first, and senior Wayne Andersen placed third with 21' 8 1/2".

Then Harvard began to sweep the running events, destroying the hopes of Northeastern's strong cross-country veterans. The Crimson's David McKelvey flashed to a 1:12.7 in the 600-yard run, just .2 second off his Brigg's Cage record set the weekend before.

In the mile run, Harvard's Jim Smith won in 4:16.1 with sophomore Dick Howe close behind. Jim Baker, who picked up third place with a 4:20 time, was running below his peak for the season and still was not pressed by Northeastern.

By a Nose

The 1000 yard event came down to a close finish, as the Crimson's Dick Howe almost caught Northeastern's Jim Castanza on the final lap. Both finished in 2:15.6, but the Huskie's man edged over to finish first. Another Huskie took third.

Harvard sophomores swept the two-mile as well as the mile, as Doug Hardin posted a fast 9:24.2 performance. Tim McLoone and Bruce Jones coasted in behind.

By the end of the meet, Harvard's one and two mile relay wins only further insulted Northeastern. Frank Hagarty, Frank Snowden, Bob Cook, and Sam Robinson easily outdistanced the Huskies in the mile relay, while the two-mile relay team squeezed out an 8:16.6 time for a two-second margin.

In the freshman meet, the Crimson whipped Northeastern, 79-24.

Advertisement