Princeton Slithers by Women Harriers

Hot off last week's Princeton-Yale upset, the Crimson women harriers travelled to Van Cortland Park, N.Y., Friday all set to take home the Ivy Championship crown. For one sweet hour they thought they had it, too, until a miscount was discovered and Princeton emerged the victor by a single point, 62-63.

"The elation turned to despair," recalled harrier captain Becky Rogers, but she added, "We still ran a really good race. We kept on saying, 'If only we'd done a little better', but that's a destructive thing to do. I can still say we ran well."

Beckford Triumphs

And indeed they did. Darlene Beckford not only won the individual crown for Harvard, she shattered the Ivy Championship meet record as well with a 17:29.

While a good half minute slower than her season's best, a 16:59 last weekend, Beckford's time shined all the brighter considering the notoriously difficult Van Cortland Park course, which boasts a grueling second-mile leg.

Kristen Linsley finished next for the harriers, edged out for second place by Yale's Sally Strauss, whom she'd beaten only last week, and had to settle for third. Linsley wouldn't stay disappointed for long, though, as she and Beckford were among the top five finishers named All-Ivy after the meet.

Retinue

The harriers brought in the rest of their retinue in staggered intervals. Ellen Gallagher finished ninth, a good indication of how high the caliber of women cross country runners has risen in the Ivy League in recent years.

Steady Martha Clabby finished fourth for Harvard and 18th overall, while Rogers was the next Crimson jersey to cross the finish line back in the 35th spot. "We need some work closing up the gap," Rogers observed, describing a problem that has consistently plagued the harriers all season.

A one-point loss never sits too well, but the Crimson had ample consolation as it left the rest of the league coughing its dust, and established itself together with Princeton as the only real top contenders around. Dartmouth and Cornell faded into the background, tied for fourth with 95 apiece, while the rest never even registered an image.

THE NOTEBOOK: Crimson stalwart Wiley McCarthy continues to run despite quadricep injuries. McCarthy has been running hurt for the past three weeks and it finally caught up with the slender sophomore in Friday's meet. If McCarthy can recuperate in time for the EAIAWs coming up this Saturday, the harriers stand a good shot to win.