Crimson Trackmen Romp Over Holy Cross, 82-27

Never believe a track coach. Especially if his name is McCurdy.

Anguished wails from Crimson coach Bill McCurdy led everyone to believe that last night's meet with Holy Cross in the Snake Pit was going to be the end of the varsity's undefeated string. It almost was, but a tremendous rally by the Crimson as the last dim spark of hope was about to be extinguished produced a thoroughly stirring 82-27 victory.

Although the meet as a contest had been over for hours, the two-mile relay was again the high point. In Jay Bowers, Charlie Buchta, Paul Lilly, and Jack O'Connor, the varsity faced reputedly the best two-mile unit in New England.

Crusader coach Bart Sullivan elected to try for a victory in the race's first two legs, by sending his best runners, Bowers and Buchta, against Don Kirkland, the Crimson's question mark, and Gus Schumacher. But Kirkland, who has developed into a top-notch competitor, killed that idea by staying with Bowers for 880 yards and sending Schumacher off even with Buchta. Schumacher, running behind the diminutive Buchta, was forced to chop his stride, and tried near the end of his leg, falling 10 yards behind.

Mark Mullin ran a 57.0 first quarter to make up the 10 yards against Lilly, and then kept gaining. Captain Fred Howard increased the 15-yard lead Mullin handed him to nearly 75 at the wire.

New Two-Mile Relay Record

The Crimson's time, a new Briggs Cage record, was 7:52.3. Splits were Kirkland 1:59.0, Schumacher 1:59.7, Mullin 1:56.8 and Howard 1:56.8.

In the 1000, earlier, Buchta battled Howard neck-and-neck for the entire last lap, and edged him out at the finish in 2:14.6. another Cage record. Howard's record of 2:14.8, set Saturday, died quickly.

Holy Cross went for broke in the evening's first race, sending 1000 ace Bowers against Mullin and Jed Fitzgerald in the mile. Both Crimson runners pulled away on the last lap, and Mullin barely defeated Fitzgerald in 4:22.1. In the freshman mile, Eddie Meehan ran 4:22.5 for Harvard freshman indoor and freshman Cage marks. The Yardlings won their meet, 75 to 34.

Rick deLone was first in the varsity shot at 52 ft., 9 1/2 in., a new Harvard Briggs Cage record. Kirkland ran another fine race to defeat O'Connor in a 1:15.0 600, and Jack Benjamin upset the Cross' Bud Barker with a 9:51.7 two-mile.