faces in the crowd...

Traudl Hecher, 16-year-old Austrian skier who fortnight ago won women's Hahnenkamm title, was equally impressive in Austrian Nationals, winning combined title before packing up for U.S. and Squaw Valley.

Tan Joe Hok, 22-year-old Indonesian who last year became U.S. national badminton champion, won Toronto Strathgowan international shuttlecock tournament, a tune-up for defense of his title in U.S. in March.

Henri Salaun, 34, French-born Bostonian, successfully defended his Cowles Cup squash racquets title for the fourth straight year, defeated Charles Ufford of New York 15-10, 15-6, 15-9 at Manhattan's Harvard Club.

Gene Kotlarek, 19, University of Minnesota sophomore and 1958 North American ski jumping champion, soared near-record 248 feet at Ishpeming, Mich. trials to lead the youngest U.S. Olympic team qualifiers ever.

Ed Lee, 54-year-old New Yorker, defeated Stanhope Adams of Chicago to finish with six victories and no defeats and retain his national amateur three-cushion billiard championship, at New York Athletic Club.

Pete Cimino, 17, 6-foot 2-inch Bristol, Pa. HS basketball forward whose past high score was mere 34 points, hit for 114 (44 field goals, 26 free throws) in one game, just six points under schoolboy record set in 1953.

Colonel John McEwan, 64, All-America and coach (1923-25) at West Point, who in 1913 kicked off first Army-Notre Dame game, was honored by Touchdown Club of New York for his service to football.

SEVEN PHOTOS