1967 MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
November 28, 1967
Villanova's cross country runners celebrated their second traight National Collegiate Athletic Association title today when they got down to earth.
The Cats, coached by
Jumbo Elliott and
Jack Pyrah, brought home the team trophy to show off for a crowd of congratulators at the airport, but Univ. of Wyoming officials will have to ship the individual trophy to Gerry Lindgren at Washington State. He left without collecting his award.
Lindgren covered six miles of Laramie (Wyo.) Country Club's frozen flatlands in 30:45.6 in 25-degree chill at an altitude of 7,200 feet (chosen for similarity to 1968 Olympic conditions at Mexico City). Last year, he won in 29:01.4 at Lawrence, Kans.
Charlie Messenger and
Tom Donnelly, who placed sixth and seventh in leading the Cats to the NCAA crown in 1966, finished 10th and 23d for Villanova, followed by
Des McCormack (31st),
Dave Patrick (34th) and
Ian Hamilton (36th).Â
With scores adjusted to eliminate placing of runners not competing on a five-man team, Villanova scored 91 points, edging the Air Force Academy by five, with Colorado third with 110.
"Jumbo predicted that Air Force and Colorado -- two high-altitute teams -- would give us the most trouble," Pyrah said. "Our boys did a tremendous job, considering the altitude and cold.
"It's because of Des McCormack that we won the title in the IC4A meet last week, he couldn't breathe well because of the cold. He really came through for us."
"It was the toughest last mile I've ever run," Lindgren said. "I wish I'd had more than one day to get acclimated here."
Messenger, one of the first 15 finishers, earned an All-America certificate.
Â
VILLANOVA ROSTER
|
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
High School |
| Dick Buerkle |
Junior |
Rochester, N.Y. |
Aquinas Institute |
| Tom Donnelly |
Junior |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
La Salle |
| Mike Garvey |
Sophomore |
Cranford, N.J. |
Roselle Catholic |
| Ian Hamilton |
Senior |
Cobh, Ireland |
Presentation Brothers |
| Cliff Harbourt |
Junior |
Trenton, N.J. |
Steiner |
| Al McCafferty |
Senior |
New Milford, Conn. |
Quincy |
| Charlie Messenger |
Senior |
Baltimore, Md. |
Kenwood |
| Desmond McCormack |
Sophomore |
Dublin, Ireland |
Colaister Mhuire |
| Frank Murphy |
Junior |
Dublin, Irelad |
|
| Greg Muth |
Sophomore |
Somerset, N.J. |
St. Joseph |
| Craig Nation |
Senior |
King of Prussia, Pa. |
Upper Merion |
| Jack O'Leary |
Senior |
Linden, N.J. |
Essex Catholic |
| Andy O'Reilly |
Sophomore |
Florak Park, N.J. |
Bishop Reilly |
| Dave Patrick |
Senior |
Baltimore, Md. |
Kenwood |
| Tony Sellitto |
Senior |
|
|
| Head Coach: Jumbo Elliott |
| Assistant Coach: Jack Pyrah |
1967 HONORS AND AWARDS
All-Americans
Charles Messenger
IC4A Team Champion
Villanova
IC4A Individual Results
Tom Donnelly (3rd)
Dave Patrick (7th)
Charlie Messenger (8th)
Ian Hamilton (11th)
Dick Buerkle (19th)
Frank Murphy (24th)
Desmond McCormack (67th)
