M. Track eyes test on Tobacco Road

In last week's Quaker Invitational, the Penn men's track team was rather pleased with many of its individual accomplishments. This weekend, though, in the squad's first scored competition of the spring season, the Red and Blue will get an idea of how they stack up as a team. Leaving town early yesterday morning to make the nine-hour journey to North Carolina, the Quakers will participate in the Raleigh Relays today and tomorrow at N.C. State. Penn's stars such as jumper Tuan Wreh and thrower Matt Pagliasotti will undoubtedly rack up a lot of points this season, but this weekend's meet will test the team's depth. "From a team perspective, it's important," senior pole vaulter John Church said. "This is a meet in which we get to compete against some of the best of the East." Church expects the vaulting unit, perhaps Penn's greatest asset during the indoor season, to be strong when the pressure is on later in the season for Penn Relays and the Heptagonal Championships, but feels that it might not get off to such an auspicious start. Junior Josh Coleman no-heighted last week; senior Bob Reynolds is taking some time away from the team; and Church will not travel to Raleigh due to academic commitments. In addition to that, junior Luke Stokes injured his back at the close of the winter season and is out indefinitely, though mid-April seems a likely target date for his return. Unlike the vaulters, who expect to overcome their early-season obstacles without much of a problem, Penn's throwers have wasted no time in impressing. While Pagliasotti, junior Ben Williams and senior Brent Stiles may have all enjoyed a great deal of success at the Quaker Invitational, it was a freshman participating in his first-ever collegiate meet who raised the most eyebrows this past Saturday. Javelin thrower Brian Chaput qualified for the NCAA championship meet last week, as he posted the second-longest distance in Penn javelin history in just his first meet as a member of the Red and Blue. The Quakers are excited about their throwers, who may serve as somewhat of a secret weapon. Since javelin and discus are solely spring events, Penn's strength in each could launch the team to far greater glory than it had in a better-than-respectable indoor campaign. "The javelin itself adds about 20 points to the team," Church said. Perhaps even more foreboding for the Red and Blue's opponents this year is the fact that Pagliasotti feels that no Penn thrower was really near the top of his game a week ago. Not bad for a group that garnered four first-place finishes in throwing events, including two courtesy of Pagliasotti himself. The talent is unquestionably in place, and the focus of the team, a major concern following indoor Heps, seems to now have been restored after a solid season-opener. "We do believe that we can win Heps," Church said, claiming that Penn's blend of athletic ability, depth and a strong mindset could carry the team to victory in the esteemed meet. Time will tell, but the Raleigh Relays should provide a good early barometer.