Tracksters Slip by Springfield; Distance Events Give the Edge

The women tracksters' meet against Springfield Saturday in the ITT had a lot in common with the present nuclear arms race: great tension, much flexing of muscles, precarious shifts in balance, strategic exploitation of the opponent's weaknesses, not to mention the "polar" atmosphere outside. But this race had a final outcome, as the Crimson pulled out a last minute 55-50 victory over a surprised Springfield squad.

The lead seesawed back and forth throughout the afternoon, as Harvard swept the 880, mile, two mile, mile relay, and two mile relay events.

Springfield swept the 60 yd. dash, 60 yd. hurdles, 880 relay, and took most of the places in the 220, 440 and field events. Harvard's slight edge at the finish reflected the line-up of the day's events, which included just enough long distance races to override the tracksters' losses elsewhere.

Not that the outcome was merely the luck of the draw. There were plenty of outstanding performances besides. Junior Liane Rozzell was the hero of the day. As Harvard's first-strike force, Rozzell won the high jump with a mark of 5 ft. 3 in. and ran a leg of the meet-winning two mile relay to break the 50-50 tie.

Sprinter Karen Blount ran her finest race ever, salvaging second place in the 220 with a personal best of 27:3 seconds. After the meet, a happy Blount reflected on the motivation for her performance: "We needed it, we had to have it to win, so I just went out and did it. I still can't believe I did it, but it sure feels good to win a meet like that."

Crimson distance stalwarts, missing benched co-captain Martha Clabby, were predictably impeccable, Kristen Linsley ran a 4:56:01 mile, followed closely by Mary Hurlihy and Ellen Gallagher for second and third. The two mile was nearly an instant replay, with Linsley, Gallagher, and Anita Diaz this time for the sweep.