Crimson Winning Streak Snapped at Army, 61-48

WEST POINT, N.Y. Dec. 10--"It's been a long time, Bill," said Army track coach Carl Crowell, whose team had just whipped Harvard for the first time since 1964.

"Yeah, but not long enough to suit me," replied Crimson coach Bill McCurdy, whose team had just seen its twenty eight-meet winning streak snapped here today, 61-48.

Outside the giant fieldhouse, the grayness of the military academy was even grayer than usual in a shroud of fog. But inside, Cadet fans cheered ecstatically as Army's squad, led by a tiny sophomore named Van Evans, turned in an incredible all-around performance to clinch the meet before the last three events were run.

No Jump

The Cadets beat Harvard at the Crimson's own game -- jumping. Army swept all three places in the broad jump, took first and second in the high jump, and first in the pole valut. Harvard won all three events last year in trampling the Cadets by thirty-four points.

Army nudged out Harvard by two points in the track events, but the Crimson could manage only twelve points and one first place in the five field events. The bright spot was the weight throw where Ron Wilson won with an only fair heave of 58' 1 1/4", and Charlie Ajootian was third.

Evans was a double winner for Army. He shocked Harvey Thomas in the broad jump and tied a meet record in the sixty yard dash with a time of 6.4 seconds.

There were three big Harvard wins in the track events. Dave McKelvey outstripped the field to win the 600 yard run in 1:11.5 and break a five-year old meet record.

Trey Burns, running with an injured ankle, captured the 1000 yard run in 2:12.4, then anchored Harvard's victorious two mile relay squad.

And Doug Hardin outdashed everyone with a 9:14.7 two mile run. Hardin stayed at teammate Jim Baker's shoulder for the first three laps, went ahead on the fourth and increase his lead after that.

Baker, who placed third behind two Cadets in the earlier mile race, and Joe Ryan followed Hardin across for the Crimson's only sweep of the day.

The Harvard freshmen, led by double winner Keith Coburn, clobbered the Plebes, 70-39.