Freshmen lead M. Track

"This is the most talented freshman class we have ever had at this University," Interim President Claire Fagin said at freshman convocation in September. While she might have been referring to the classes' academics, she also could have been referring to the group of athletes on the Penn men's track team. So far this season, six of the team's freshmen have qualified, or are close to qualifying, for IC4As or Junior Nationals. "With freshmen, we don't have as much expectation as we do aspiration," assistant coach Nathan Taylor said. Tomorrow, the group will try to continue to improve when it travels to Cornell. Coming off a big win against Princeton, Penn cannot look past the Big Red, which has four "very studly" athletes, and a pretty good team according to Taylor. Freshman Josh Deines, who was a heavyweight on the wrestling team, will have to take on one of Cornell's big four, senior Scott Perkins in the shot put. "It doesn't really matter who you throw against," Deines said. "You really are throwing against yourself." Coming out of high school, Deines was one of the top throwers in the discus. He has concentrated on the shot put at Penn because the discus is heavier in college and he has had a hard time adjusting. "Because I wrestled, I haven't had the time to get used to the weight of the discus," Deines said. "Also, we have two good discus throwers, so I think I contribute more in the shot." While Deines sealed the victory for Penn last weekend, classmate Carl Eklof pulled off the biggest upset by beating indoor league-champ Matt Levine from Yale in the hurdles. It doesn't get easier as he has to go up against two-time defending Heps champ Matt McLean. "I'm going in with the attitude that I have nothing to lose," Eklof said. "I lost to him earlier in the the season, but it's supposed to rain and that usually bothers the other guy more than it bothers me." Eklof is getting close to qualifying for the U.S. Junior National squad in the high hurdles, an event that has been one of the most competitive in the past. He also has been running on the 4x400-meter relay team. The freshmen talent does not end there. Jim Primerano has run 1 minute, 53.74 seconds in the 800. John Yu, a strong athlete, has qualified for Junior Nationals in intermediate hurdles. Joining him at the meet will be Matt Wilkinson, who qualified in the 10,000. "Next year he is going to be a force in distance running," Taylor said. The person who has made the most progress since high school has been Randy Simmons. He is already the team's top triple and long jumper, and has broken into Penn's top 10 list. Unfortunately for the team, he will be out this weekend with a dislocated shoulder. "I hope to be back by Penn Relays, but all I care about is being back by Heps," Simmons said. "I knew the freshmen were good coming in, but I think it was somewhat of a blessing in disguise." If this group can keep working, the Quakers can be considered a legitimate contender for the league title -- not only this year, but for the next three.