M. Track cruises in split-squad invitationals

Parting can be such sweet sorrow, but not for the Penn men's track team who finished up the weekend with an array of IC4A qualifiers.

Last weekend, the Quakers divided up their resources with a fleet of runners heading up to Boston for the Terrier Classic and another field of competitors traveling west to the Penn State Invitational.

The Red and Blue accomplished what they came to Happy Valley for -- to run their fastest times in hopes of not only qualifying for the IC4A Championships, but also to see where they stood compared to other elite teams.

As expected, Penn had its usual upper-class qualifiers, including senior Tuan Wreh with second place in the triple jump at 5 feet 10 inches.

Junior Sam Burley finished third in the 800m with a time of 1:50.68, while junior Bryan Abram nabbed fourth place in the 500m with a time of 1:04.40, and sophomore Joe Plevelich placed 11th in the 800m with a time of 1:53.94.

However, perhaps unexpectedly, the Red and Blue also had two freshman IC4A qualifiers, Dusty Lieb and Scott Sebens. Sebens had a personal best finish, placing 9th in the 1000m while Lieb placed 19th in the 3000m.

"I was so happy when I qualified," Lieb said. "Coming into the season, I had hoped to qualify, but I was definitely never expecting it."

The freshman 4x800m team also excelled, only missing qualifying by eight-tenths of a second.

This season's freshman success is no doubt a direct result of the admirable leadership of the Quakers veteran competitors.

"It would be impossible to train without the example that they set for us," Lieb said. "They really help us get through it."

Getting into the act in Penn's successful weekend was assistant coach Jaime Cook.

A former all-American at Penn State, Cook -- allowed to compete as an unattached competitor in the Pentathlon -- placed first in this event.

"He's a phenomenal athlete, and he's really helped the program," Penn freshman Michael Lang said. "That he finished first didn't surprise me."

As the Quakers prepare for their pair of upcoming meets -- at Delaware and in the Penn State Invitational -- Penn will embark on another challenging workout schedule.

These two meets are critical as they will be the last meets to qualify in before Heps.

"We are right at the point where a lot of us are going to qualify," Burley, who was an all-American last year, said. "Most of us are just one step away and everything we've been working so hard for is really coming together."

Despite the added pressure in the season's final weeks, the Quakers remain composed, however, as they approach the Heps.

"We need to put on our uniforms and represent Penn the best we can," freshman Lang said.

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