Cross Country

The Big Green varsity cross-country team opened the 1956 season by being shut out by a strong Manhattan College team 15-50 as the Jaspers swept the first eleven places in the meet. A week later the Indian runners finished third behind Yale and Columbia in a triangular meet. Both races were held on the Hanover course.

Certainly the poor showing in both meets was due in part to the absence of Dartmouth ace, Captain Doug Brew. Brew pulled a tendon in his ankle before the opening race and was not able to start practicing until just before the triangular meet. He did enter this race but was forced to drop out before finishing.

The other factor in Dartmouth's losses has been the absence of lettermen. Senior Don Burkhardt has been the only top runner with experience, while sophomores Dick Nau, Tom Lennox, Mike Nolen and Pete Marshall are the top contenders behind him.

In the opening meet against Manhattan, sophomore Dick Nau was the first Indian runner to finish, coming in 12th. He was trailed in order by Burkhardt, Lennox, Nolen and Marshall. Against Yale and Columbia Nau came in 9th for Dartmouth with Burkhardt, Lennox and Marshall trailing.

With Captain Doug Brew gradually getting back into shape and the sophomores gaining more experience in each meet, Coach Ellie Noyes is confident the team will improve for the meets ahead. "We could win a couple of our dual meets," said Noyes, "but we just don't have the experience and ability to cope with the good teams, and I'm afraid we'll drop down a few places in the Heptagonal meet this year."

Encouragement for next year, however, comes from a better-than-average freshman cross-country team which looked impressive with a close 23-32 loss to Yale in the opener.