A CROSS COUNTRY COACH.

That the Athletic Association has engaged Alfred Shrubb to coach the cross country team this fall is a sure proof of a progressive policy and of the ability to profit by past mistakes. Two years ago Shrubb acted as coach and from mediocre material developed a team which defeated Yale and showed well in intercollegiate run. Last year the team was left to its own resources and was disastrously defeated.

Of all forms of sport cross-country running places the greatest strain upon the heart and lungs, and for no other reason than this, a competent trainer and coach should be provided to prevent over-work on the part of inexperienced athletes. As a training-school for distance men, cross-country running plays an important part in promoting the success of the track team. This may perhaps be emphasized by the fact that in the seven years from 1902 to 1908, Cornell won the intercollegiate run each year and placed 21 men in the mile and two-mile races of the intercollegiate meets. During the same period Harvard finished each year in from second to seventh place in the cross-country run, and in the track events only three men won points. Such uniformly poor results cannot be attributed in all cases to inferior material.

There is an unusually large number of able distance runners in the University this year, who if properly developed may be able to win the intercollegiate run, a victory never yet enjoyed by Harvard. A more favorable opportunity for this has never been presented. The Athletic Association is to be congratulated upon making this possible through the provision of an able coach.