CROSS COUNTRY

A 5-3 record is relatively disappointing for Dartmouth's cross-country team this fall but understandable when measured against the rash of pulled muscles and assorted maladies that plagued Coach Ken Weinbel's team.

"We achieved better grouping than ever before," said Weinbel, "but we lacked the outstanding speed we needed."

Demonstrating the statement was Dartmouth's performance in the Heptagonal meet. The Green's top five runners were separated by 25 seconds. The problem was that Bob Varsha, a senior who proved to be Dartmouth's best runner this fall, was 23rd. As a result, the Green finished eighth in the team standings.

In the New England meet in Boston, it was a similar situation. Varsha again set the pace but was 15th. Tom Shiland, the captain who was expected to be the pacesetter, was 17th.

"Tom's had a pulled muscle most of the fall," said Weinbel. "He spent most of the season running about 30 seconds slower than his best times last year."

It was that kind of season.