LINING THEM UP

Back from a successful Florida trip with a new spirit of "togetherness," the varsity track squad has the potential and the depth to make its followers forget about the dismal winter season just ended. The team returned from the South with a surprisingly large number of new-found assets and its smallest injury list since last December.

On the Florida jaunt, coach Bill McCurdy uncovered some outstanding hidden talent, and the most encouraging surprise of all was probably sophomore Stan Doten. Even while hindered by inexperience and a severe sunburn, Doten gained an amazing amount of polish in the hammer throw, finally topping his more experienced teammates with an excellent 166 ft. heave.

After McCurdy had practically given up on him as a hurdler, Tom Blodgett, already the team's best pole vaulter, demonstrated enough improvement in speed and endurance to re-establish himself as number two man behind Joel Landau. Wink Pescosolido and Pat Liles developed rapidly as low hurdlers, and distance runner Willy Thompson showed signs of life after a discouraging indoor season.

Miler Fred Howard and Dave Brahms, in the middle distances, continued their upward trend in performance which first showed in the Heptagonals, where Brahms ran a 1:57 leg in the two-mile relay and Howard came from nowhere to take fifth in the mile. Frank Yeomans gave indications of becoming a definite threat in the sprints.

Spirit Returns

The most encouraging result of the Southern expedition was the return of that elusive ingredient, team spirit. Without a real leader, the squad often lacked drive and desire during the winter. This new morale may be transitory, but if not, it would make the money given by the Friends of Harvard Track well spent.

The varsity's casualty list has dwindled to one serious injury, Ed Martin's damaged Achilles tendon. Skip Pescosolido hurt his arm after a succession of 200 ft. javelin throws, but his condition is not believed to be serious.

Landau could be the key figure of the spring season. He is nearly unbeatable in the hurdles, and he can team with Dodge to present a formidable twosome in the dash. A few performances like his four firsts in last year's Yale meet could mean a lot to the Crimson.

Captain Al Gordon's return to form in the 440 would be heartening for those who watched him struggle through a miserable winter campaign. Trying harder in each race at the unfamiliar 600-yard distance, Gordon actually got worse as the season wore on. But he is a great competitor and a fine runner; he should come back. Art Cahn in the 880 and Jed Fitzgerald in the mile seem ready for some fine efforts.

Field events may be the team's strong point. Doten and Jim Doty in the hammer, Abbot and Doty in the shot, Skip Pescosolido in the javelin, and Blodgett in the pole vault lead a strong group that should produce a few sweeps before the season is over.

The varsity will oppose Army at West Point on April 18. If the varsity can get by the Cadets, the outlook will brighten considerably. Of course, Yale has already produced a 48.0 quarter by Jim Stack, a 1:53.5 half-mile by Tommy Carroll, and a 3:14.7 mile relay, but it's spring and anything can happen.