Track looks to replenish talent pool with strong freshmen

Following a successful 1998 season with second-place finishes in both the indoor and outdoor Heptagonals, the Penn men's track team is looking for some new blood to invigorate the squad this season. The program has recruited 19 athletes from 12 different states for the incoming class of 2002. Nine of these athletes have a good chance of contributing immediately to 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," Penn assistant coach Nathan Taylor said. The Quakers' most notable recruit is Tuan Wreh. The freshman is primarily a triple jumper, but won the Maryland state championship in the triple jump, long jump and high jump. As a high school athlete, he was ranked 11th nationwide 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 10 in Penn history if he made the same 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 looked to Connecticut for help in the long distance events with the addition of Matt Gioffre, Connecticut's 1998 cross country state champion. His personal bests in the mile and the two-mile are 4:17 and 9:19, respectively. Bryan O'Neil 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 championship runner-up in the high hurdles and was also a semifinalist at the National Scholastic Indoor Meet. "I think [Bryan] is going to be good because he's got the right attitude," Taylor said. Although the Quakers were not able to find anyone of note in the discus or the shotput, 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 missed many freshmen who might have made an immediate impact. "We lost kids for scholarship reasons," Taylor said. "Also, Penn's standard for admission has risen." Nevertheless, the coaching staff hopes and believes the newest Quakers will replace graduating seniors and add depth to an already bona fide track program, placing Penn in contention for a championship season.