Crimson Takes On Red Raide In Crucial Cross Country Open

The cross country team couldn't pick pick a tougher Ivy League opponent than Cornell to open the new season. In the Big Red, the varsity will face a veteran squad running on home territory and boasting the best distance man in the league, Steve Machooka.

In addition, Crimson coach Bill McCurdy will be fielding a team dominated by sophomores competing in their first varsity contest.

Although Cornell may capitalize on the Crimson's early season inexperience, Harvard should have the edge in conditioning. The team has been training for a month and just might catch the Ithacans before they have a chance to reach top form.

McCurdy has indicated that his team has a fairly good chance. Veteran stars Captain Ed Hamlin and Eddie Meehan have been bothered by early season injuries, but "both are better than they were last year," according to McCurdy.

Sophomore Bill Crain, who has been running right with Meehan and Hamlin, has what it takes to give the Crimson a new big three. Another second year man, Jack D'Arcy has recovered from an early season injury and may be good for points against Cornell Saturday. Good performances from these sophs and from classmate Roy Cobb are essential if the varsity is to score its second straight upset victory over the Big Red.

Early in the season, coach McCurdy said "We haven't had a bigger replacement problem in my 11 years at Harvard." Since then he has admitted his sophomores have given "very positive performances" in training.

Saturday's match in Ithaca should go a long way toward showing whether the new cross country team (minus Mark Mullin) is an Ivy crown contender or a young team that will be good next year.