Jumper leads M. Track recruits

Tuan Wreh highlights the Penn men's track recruiting lcass, but he is only one recruit of many expected to make an impact. Following a successful 1998 season that saw them finished second in both the indoor and outdoor Heptagonals, the Penn men's track team is looking for some new blood to reinvigorate the squad next year. The program has recruited 19 athletes from 12 different states from the incoming class of 2002. Nine of these athletes have a good chance to contribute next year in Penn's attempt to retake first place in the Ivy League. "We have aspirations for them to do well, but we don't have expectations for them," assistant coach Nathan Taylor said. The Quakers' most recognized recruit is Tuan Wreh. Wreh is primarily a triple jumper, but won the Maryland state championship in the triple jump, long jump and high jump. He was ranked eleventh among high schoolers nation-wide in the triple jump and finished second at the National Scholastic Outdoor Championships in the event. "We don't usually get guys that good," Taylor said. Wreh's personal best triple jump is 49'10", which would place him in the top ten in Penn history if he had made the leap in a Penn uniform. The other big Penn jumping recruit is Gene Sun. Sun, who was a Connecticut long jump state champion, also finished as the runner-up in the 100 meter dash at States. He should add depth to the sprint team. The Red and Blue also gained much needed help in the long distance events. Matt Gioffre was Connecticut's cross country state champion, and his personal bests in the mile and the two-mile are 4:17 and 9:19, respectively. Another distance runner is Adam Waseliski, who finished in the top ten among New York cross country runners. O'Neil Bryan and Eric Yearley should have an immediate impact on the hurdling team. Yearley was runner-up in the high hurdles at Ohio's state championship. Bryan was the New York state shampionship runner-up in the high hurdles and was also a semifinalist at the National Scholastic Indoor Meet. "I think he [Bryan] is going to be good because he's got the right attitude," Taylor said. Although the Quakers were not able to find anyone suitable in the discus or the shot put, Pennsylvania native Chris Crisman was recruited for the javelin throw. Stephen Faulk and Pat Coomes round out the best of Penn's class of 2002. Coomes is originally from California, but he spent his last year of high school in London. "In the 100 meters and the 200 meters, Pat ran times in his junior year that would score at Heps," Taylor said. Faulk, a native of Los Angeles, ran the 100 meter dash in 10.7 seconds and will also be playing football in the fall. "I'm glad sprinters are coming in with Mike Stiffler and Kael Coleman graduating," Taylor said. Despite the quality of this incoming freshman class, Penn generally has around a dozen freshmen not coming in who might have made an immediate impact. "We lost kids for scholarship reasons," Taylor said. "Also, Penn's standard for admission has risen." As an Ivy League school, Penn cannot award athletic scholarships to lure top recruits to West Philadelphia. Nevertheless, the coaching staff hopes and believes the newest Quakers will replace graduating seniors and add depth to an already bona fide track program, putting Penn in contention for a championship season.