CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On February 11, 2006, the Northside College Prep Varsity and Sophmore/Freshman Teams made their season debut in one of the most competitive indoor meets in the State. The meet was hosted by Track and Field powerhouse Evanston high school, and featured New Trier, Morgan Park, Stagg, Schaumburg, Danville and the Northside Mustangs. In the very first race of the day, Junior Patrick O'Connor opened up a lead for the Mustangs in the Varsity 4x800 Relay with a 2:14 800m. Senior Daniel Kittaka made a nice exchange, and maintained the lead with a 2:22 800m in the second leg of the 4x800m Relay. Senior Bobby Ziegler ran an outstanding 2:32 800m in the third leg of the 4x800m Relay. Senior Joseph Terdik anchored the 4x800m Relay to victory with a 2:20 800m in the final leg of the 4x800m Relay, for a final time of 9:28. The members of the 4x800m Relay showed great mental toughness against intense competition, for the Mustangs first Varsity 4x800m Victory of the 2006 season. In the Sophmore/Freshman 4x800m Relay, Irfan Hussain stayed within striking distance of the lead pack for the Mustangs with a 2:46 800m, and made a nice exchange to Santino Merino. Santino Merino dramatically closed the gap through 640m with an impressive 2:01. However, he accidentently made the exchange a lap early, disqualifying the Sophmore/Freshman 4x800m Relay. Tyler Johnson ran a very impressive third leg of the 4x800m Relay with a 2:40 800m. Eric Ullrich anchored the 4x800m Relay with an outstanding 2:39 in the final 800 meters. In the Sophmore/Freshman 3200m Run, the Mustangs swept the top four places, lead by Freshman Jonathan Kittaka (11:45), followed by James Casper-Shipp (12:32), Brad Eben (12:41), and Ryan Walach (13:30). In the Varsity Long Jump, Senior Bobby Ziegler, a distance runner, scored for the Mustangs by placing 8th overall with an outstanding jump of 14'10.5. This was one of the most amazing highlights of the meet. Ziegler just learned "steps" for the long jump the day before the meet, and a week ago he was on crutches. In the Sophmore/Freshman High Jump, Hiro Joho placed 6th overall with a jump of 4'6. Jerry Tran placed 7th overall with a personal best jump of 4'4. In the Sophmore/Freshman 50 Yard Dash, Sophmore Jose Choto placed 6th overall with a 6.01. Teammates Jerry Tran (6.45), Kyle Diep (6.78), Christian Okoye (6.79), Sam Vergard (7.11), and Nathan Michaelson (7.70) also ran outstanding for the Mustangs. In the varisty 50 Yard Dash, Junior Manraj Bains ran an impressive 7.16. In the Sophmoore/Freshman 800m Run, Freshman Simon Vechhioni lead the Mustangs with an outstanding 2:43. Sophmore Faraz Khan ran a personal best time of 3:20. Freshman Coleman Gailloreto ran a personal best time of 3:21. In the varsity 800m run, David Velasco ran a personal best time of 3:11, and Junior Aamir Khan ran a personal best time of 3:16. In the Sophmore/Freshman 4x160m Relay, the Mustangs placed 4th overall with a 1:32.21. Jerry Tran lead off with a 23.14 160m. In the second leg of the relay, Santino Merino ran an outstanding 22.75 160m. Kyle Diep ran a 24.16 on the third leg of the relay, and Hiro Joho anchored the relay with an outstanding 22.16 in the final 160m. In the Sophmore/Freshman 400m Dash, James Casper-Shipp ran a personal best time of 72.38. In the Sophmore/Freshman 600 Yard run, Freshman Sam Vergara and Brian Chhun both had two of the most impressive performances in the meet. Sam Vergara placed 4th overall with an outstanding time of 1:46.7. Brian Chhun placed 5th overall with an outstanding time of 1:47.8. In the Sophmore/Freshman 60 Yard Low-Hurdles, Sophmore Hiro Joho placed 6th overall with an outstanding time of 9.76. Freshman Benjamin Garcia ran a personal best time of 10.40. Sophmore Christian Okoye ran a personal best time of 11.01 In the Freshman Mile, Jonathan Kittaka had a dramatic finish against Schaumburg's top miler to finished 2nd overall with a time of 5:32. Freshman Tyler Johnson placed 8th overall with a personal best time of 6:13. In the Sophmore Mile, Eric Ullrich recovered quickly after a fall on the first lap, and placed 7th overall with a dramatic kick with an outstanding time of 5:55. Irfan Hussain ran a personal best time of 6:16. Brad Eben ran a personal best time of 6:20. In the Varsity Mile, Patrick O'Connor (5:04) and Daniel Kittaka (5:05) placed 5th and 6th overall with an outstanding finish to hold off New Trier. Joseph Terdik (5:20), and Bobby Ziegler (5:51) both ran an excellent first race of the season. In 300 Yard Dash, Christian Okoye lead the Mustangs with a 41.41. Sam Vergara ran a personal best time of 43.70. Kyle Diep ran a personal best time of 43.78. Freshman Nathan Michaelson ran a personal best time of 49.78. In the Sophmore/Freshman 4x400m Relay, the Mustangs placed 7th overall with a 4:20.50. Benjamin Garcia lead the Mustangs with a personal best time of 62.36. Hiro Joho followed with a 67.13 400m on the second leg of the relay. Santino Merino followed with a 67.22 on the third leg of the relay. Joso Choto anchored the 4x400m relay with a 63.31 in the final 400 meters. In the Varsity 4x400m Relay, the Mustangs placed 7th overal witha 4:22.87. Joseph Terdik lead the Mustangs with a 62.08. Daniel Kittaka followed with a 66.75 on the second leg of the relay. Bobby Ziegler followed with a 72 on the third leg of the relay, and Patrick O'Connor anchored the relay with a 62.29 in the final 400 meters. The Varsity 4x800m Relay (Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Kittaka, Bobby Ziegler, Joseph Terdik) was Awarded the "IT" Award by the coaching staff at the conclusion of the meet, and will be awarded T-shirts at practice on Tuesday, February 14, 2006, at 4 pm.