World Marks Broken in NCAA's; Three Harvard Performers Place

DETROIT, Mich., Mar. 15--Two world indoor records and Jim Ryun's spectacular victory in the two-mile run highlighted the opening night of the NCAA indoor track championships here.

Dick Benka became Harvard's first shot-putter ever to place in the nationals as he unleashed a 57' 10" effort to finish third. Washington State's John Van Reeman won the event with a 62' 1" toss.

Another Harvard performer to place was Charlie Ajootian, who was fourth behind Rhode Island's Dick Narcessian with a 59' 101/2" toss in the 35-pound weight throw. Narcessian broke the NCAA indoor record with a 65' 53/4" performance.

Doug Hardin, Harvard's two-mile record-holder, finished a courageous sixth after staying with the leaders until the final quarter-mile of the two-mile race.

Bob "The Bird" Beaman of the University of Texas at El Paso began the meet with his world record-breaking 27' 23/4" long jump. The second world mark was set by Villanova's Larry James, who sped the 440 run in 47.0.

Ryun's win produced the most excitement. Ryan, a University of Kansas junior who holds both the outdoor 880 and mile records, exploded in the final two laps to outdistance a fine field.

Besides Ryun and Hardin, the field included Kerry Pearce of Texas-El Paso, the world record holder; Colby's Sebside Mamo, the IC4A champion, and Big Ten champion Larry Wieczorek of Iowa.

Harvard's two-mile relay team, seeded second in the field with this season's fastest 11-lap clocking in the country, will race today.