A young and healthy Harvard women's cross country squad overcame mud, drizzle and nippy temperatures in its season opener yesterday to defeat a small UMass contingent at Franklin Park, 21-40.

Led by Canadian freshman Kat Wiley and junior standout Darlene Beckford--last year's collegiate indoor champion at 800 meters--the Crimson runners managed to grab eight of the top ten places with a convincing display of depth and speed.

Running in a tight trio over most of the hilly 3-mile course, Beckford and Wiley broke away from UMass harrier Patricia Moores in the final stretch to tie for first with a respectable 17:27. Moores finished just two seconds later to settle for third place.

The pace, which assistant track coach. John Babington characterized as "reserved," saw the leaders out in a 5:30 first mile. Last year the leaders went out in a 5:09.

"I got a little worried about who was going to win when I saw the three of them coming down the home stretch together," he said, "but I think the psychological advantage of having a teammate right there pulled Darlene and Kate through."

Senior co-captain Kristin Linsley finished fifth in a time of 17:50, and yardling Jenny Strickler--the national junior 1500-meter champion--came in nine seconds later to a record 17:59.

Freshmen Kathy Good, Mary Jeanne Barrett, Amy Simon, and sophomore Linda Yeager rounded out the top ten with respective--and closely-bunched--times of 18:12, 18:21, 18:23, and 18:31.

The win--which was not unexpected considering that UMass has not beaten the Crimson in recent years--pleased Babington. "For the first time we have a strong corps of upperclassmen, as well as a remarkably talented group of freshmen," he said.

"All of our runners who have been coming along over the past few years are really looking in top form now," he added.

Wiley--a tall, lithe blond, and an "extremely disciplined and dedicated runner, according to Babington--is expected to challenge Beckford for supremacy in the longer contests this season. While the Yardling excels in the endurance races, Beckford thrives on half-miles and mile distances, yet is versatile enough to rank among the elite cross-country runners.

On Saturday the harriers meet Wheaton College at Franklin Park. October 2, they will face a stiff challenge when the University of New Hampshire--a squad they lost to last year--and Brown travel to Franklin Park for a tri-meet.

THE NOTEBOOK: Lucy Ashley, who quit field hockey last year and joined the winter track team, finished with a respectable 18:42 to take 12th place...Junior Ellen Gallagher, a key member of last year's cross country squad, has decided to take this year off from competition.