Harvard's varsity trace team, fresh from a perfect dual meet season, will be partially represented this weekend as the IC4A (Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America) outdoor Championships get underway in New York.
The IC4A's have a long history dating back to 1876, and since that time the Crimson has won 13 team championships. The last win, however, was a whopping 60 years ago. Harvard's best showing in recent years was a second-place finish in 1964.
As has been the case in recent years, many members of the team will not be able to participate because of final exams, but coach Bill McCurdy will still have a strong, though small, nucleus of stars in the meet.
Best Chances
Harvard's best chances for individual victories lie in the weight events, where it has four throwers who started during the regular season. Senior Captain Dick Benka will be a prime favorite in the shot put, an event he captured in the indoor IC4A's this winter, and might also enter the discus throw, an event in which he is only three inches shy of the University record.
Benka has been undefeated in dual meet shot put competition since his sophomore year, and has set both indoor and outdoor Harvard records in the event this year. He became the first putter in Harvard history to hit the 60-foot mark when he threw his record-breaking 61 ft. 2 in. throw this winter.
The Crimson should also be powerful in the hammer throw this weekend as Charlie Ajootian, Ed Nosal and Dave Bernstein go after victories. Ajootian and Nosal traded first and second place in the event throughout the season, and Bernstein was usually close behind. Ajootian also captured first place in the event in the prestigious Penn Relays in April.
In the running events, junior Keith Colburn will be the crimson's top threat as he challenges Yale foe Steve Bittner in the 880-yard run. Bittner defeated Colburn in this year's outdoor Heptagonal Championships only to be soundly defeated by the Crimson redhead in the May 17 dual meet between the two rivals, won by Harvard, 84-70.
Senior Tim McLoone will carry the Crimson banner in the two-mile run, where he ran a very creditable 8:58.0 in the Heps on May 10. The remaining Crimson performer will be Walter Johnson, who could threaten in the triple jump if he comes near to the 48 ft. 7 in. distance he leaped in the Princeton meet on May 3.
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Homeward Bound