Embree Takes High-Jump Title In Prestigious New York Meet

Harvard's Mel Embree leaped into national prominence Friday night as he captured the high-jump title in the prestigious Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden with a leap of 7 ft. 2 in.

Embree Western rolled his way over an impressive field which included Dwight Stones, the current world record holder in the event. Stones, was unable to match his record jump of 7 ft. 5in, set two weeks ago.

Both Embree and Stones started off the evening with the bar at 6 ft. 8in. A miss by Stones at 6 ft. 10 in. proved to be the margin of victory for Embree, despite the fact that both jumpers cleared the bar at 7 ft. 2 in.

Embree said he was very pleased with his performance and was "not at all intimidated" by the credentials of the powerful field.

"I went down to New York with the intention of beating Stones. As long as the bar stayed around 7 ft. 2 in. I was confident I could win." he said.

The approach to the high-jump bar at the Garden had been styled to accommodate the high-stepping Stones, who begins his Fosbury flop from the right side. Embree was forced to shorten his steps, but said this made little difference.

"The important thing was that I was loose. It was the first meet in a long time that I wasn't stiff or plagued with any minor muscle pulls," he said.

On Saturday, Embree rejoined the Crimson thinclads as they journeyed into the wilds of Oreno to take on the University of Maine.

Once again it was Harvard's potent field contingent which led the squad to a 76-42 victory. Weightman Dan Jiggets copped a double win in the shot put and the 35-lb weight throw as Harvard swept each event.

Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace exceeded the 24-foot mark in the board jump for the first time this year. Wayne Curtis also turned in a strong showing, winning the 1000-yard run and anchoring the 2-mile relay.