Cross country coach Bill McCurdy says he is much more optimistic about today's meet with Providence and the University of Massachusetts than he was before routing Northeastern. He is not sure. however. just how good the opposition will be when the three teams run at noon in Franklin Park.

Martin Robb of Providence and Ron Wayne and Tom Duarte of U Mass are the runners of which McCurdy is most wary Rohb was fourth behind Roy Shaw and Dong Hardin in last year's meet.

"I tend to respect U Mass a little bit more than Providence since they have two top men." McCurdy said Thursday. Wayne set a fast early pace in the Northeastern Track Club open meet recently and finished second in the five-mile race. He was fifth and Duarte was eighth in the meet with Harvard last fall.

McCurdy claims that he is not concerned. so much about who finishes first but wants a big group of Crimson runners to stay near the front. It seems likely, though, that Harvard's Mike Koerner and Tom Spengler can beat the opponents' top men with a good effort.

The Crimson coach is not counting on having either Shaw or Dave Pottetti today. Both came to cross country camp out of shape and lately have been running on their own instead of practicing with the team. Shaw will probably start with instructions to drop out if his injured calf bothers him.

John Heyburn. captain Keith Colburn, and Bob Seals are still feeling the effects of small injuries or illnesses but are expected to finish high up. Behind them should be Erik Roth, Andy Meltzoff, and Howie Foye.

McCurdy said his team might be looking past this meet to next Friday's important race against Penn. With a flock of sophomores from last year's unbeaten freshman team. Penn coach Jim Tuppeny has one of the strongest squads in the East.