Four Crimson harriers will represent Harvard in this afternoon's running of the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) cross-country meet in Van Cortland Park, New York.

Captain Jim Keefe, seniors Bill Muller and Dirk Skinner, and freshman Stein Rafto will be the Crimson runners participating in the championship meet. "We simply don't have anyone else who's performed at a level where it would make sense to send them to the meet," Crimson Coach Bill McCurdy said yesterday.

Since just four Harvard runners will be competing this afternoon, the Crimson will not figure in the overall team score, in which a minimum of five competitors is required.

"This is primarily a championship meet, in the sense of individual commitment," McCurdy said. "This isn't the first time that we haven't sent a full team down to represent us."

Keefe, who has been Harvard's best performer throughout the season, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Heptagonals. This excellent showing earned the Harvard captain a place on the All-Ivy team, where he was joined by Rafto, who finished 21st in the Heps last week.

Skinnerian Behavior

Skinner has been sidelined this fall with an ankle injury, but he managed to place a surprising 49th in the Heps. Running as the Crimson's third man, the Hep appearance was Skinner's first varsity meet of the season.

Muller had to drop out of contention in the Heps when he fell early in the race. But he has consistently been one of Harvard's three best runners this fall.

In the IC4A team competition, Maryland and Georgetown are two of the pre-race favorites, but many other squads are capable of winning the meet: Navy, the victor in the Heps; Penn; Princeton; Massachusetts; NYU; and perennial power Villanova.

McCurdy said he feels that Providence has as good a shot at first place honors as the usual favorites.