Cross Country

The Dartmouth cross-country squad, unlike other teams, practices pretty much on an individual basis. Most of the runners condition themselves during the summer and return to Hanover for a few days of intensive workouts just prior to the opening of College. A few of the top runners are back now, but the bulk of the team has not returned. Coach Ellie Noyes feels he will have a more experienced team this year, although the loss of Captain Walt Clarkson, top distance runner last fall, will be hard to overcome. Six lettermen - Captain Dick Hogarty, Paul Merriken, Pete Jebsen, Mark Starr, Tom Riker and Phil Langtry - form the nucleus of the team. Two very promising sophomores are stepping up to the varsity in Doug Brew, last year's frosh captain, and Jim Howe. Brew should be up among the top four or five runners if he can keep up the pace he set as a freshman. Beyond these six veterans and two sophomores, there are a host of reserves and some half-dozen newcomers who will be battling for the other four positions on the Dartmouth 12-man squad. The schedule, about the same as last year, is rated as "rough" by Coach Noyes, but the Indians are expected to win their share of the dual meets and place a few men in the Heptagonal and IC4A cross-country championships.

In an effort to help his men get in shape Coach Noyes is in the habit of writing letters of advice during the summer. Early in July he wrote to letterman Pete Jebsen who was working in Alaska advising Jebsen to cut down on his cigarette smoking. "Every time you want a cigarette," counselled Noyes, "reach for an apple or orange instead." Back came a note from Jebsen. "Apples and oranges up here cost fifty cents each. What do you advise?"

For once Coach Noyes had no comment.