CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Friday, March 30, 2007, Senior John Holler, Senior Geoff Edwards, Junior Preston Buehrer, and Senior Patrick O'Connor traveled to Bloomington, Illinois to prepare for the Distance Medley Relay in the Illinois Prep Top Times Invitational ("Illinois Indoor State Championships"). The meet features the best athletes in the State in every event. The athletes stayed in deluxe accomadations, at the Country Inn. All of the athletes stayed in suites that were complete with King Size beds, refrigerator, microwave, a seperate living room, multiple televisions, a swimming pool, and fitness center. Friday evening, the Mustangs dined at the Olive Garden, and then spent the rest of the evening enjoying the amenities of the hotel. The hotel was filled with the best athletes from around the State, and resembled an Olympic Village. On Saturday, March 31, 2007, the Mustangs traveled to a indoor stadium at Illinois Wesleyan University for the Illinois Prep Top Times Invitational. The stadium was at full capacity, and all athletes were kept in a large turf room, until it was time for the meet officials to bring them on to the Track for their respective event. After the 200m Dash reached its conclusion, the Mustangs were brought onto the Track for the Distance Medley Relay. The Distance Medley Relay (herein "DMR") consisted of 800m, 400m, 1200m, and the Mile. The school record for the DMR was 11:59, set in 2006 by Joseph Terdik, Preston Buehrer, Daniel Kittaka, and Bobby Ziegler. John Holler, Geoff Edwards, Preston Buehrer, and Patrick O'Connor Mustangs BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD in the Distance Medely Relay by over 30 seconds, with an outstanding time of 11:28.70. Senior John Holler led off the Distance Medley Relay with a 27 seconds split for the first 200m of the 800m leg of the DMR, and followed it was a 32 seconds split on the second 200m, for a 59 seconds 400m split. Holler ran another 32 seconds split on the third 200m, for a 1:31 600m split. Holler finished the 800m leg of the Distance Medley Relay with a 35.34 200m, for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 2:06.34 for the 800m run!! John Holler made a nice exchange to Captain Geoff Edwards. Senior Geoff Edwards ran the first 200m of the 400m leg of the DMR in 24.66 seconds. Edwards ran a 30.96 split on the second 200m, for a 55.62 400m split!!! Geoff Edwards made a nice exchange to Captain Preston Buehrer. Junior Preston Buehrer ran the first 200m of the 1200m leg of the DMR in 29.04 seconds. Buehrer ran a 36 seconds split on the second 200m of the 1200m leg of the DMR for a 400m split of 65 seconds. Buehrer ran the second 400m split (36/38) in 74 seconds, for an 800m split of 2:19. Preston Buehrer showed great endurance by running a second consecutive 74 seconds 400m split (36/38) on the final 400m of the 1200m leg of the DMR, for a personal best 1200m split of 3:33.04!!! Preston Buehrer made a nice exchange to Captain Patrick O'Connor. Senior Patrick O'Connor ran the first 200m of the 1600m leg of the DMR in 30 seconds. O'Connor ran a 35 seconds split on the second 200m of the 1600m leg of the DMR for a 400m split of 65 seconds. O'Connor ran the second 400m split (35/38) in 73 seconds, for an 800m split of 2:18. Patrick O'Connor ran the third 400m split (38/40) in 78 seconds, for a 1200m split of 3:36. Patrick O'Connor ran the final 400m (39/38.70) in 78.70 seconds, for a season best mile time of 4:53.70!!! O'Connor anchored the Mustangs to a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 11:28.70!! The Mustangs celebrated the new school records in the Mens and Womens Distance Medley Relays and Maria Torres outstanding performance in the Triple Jump on the bus with sparkling grape juice, and a dinner stop in Briadwood, Illinois at Antonia's fine Italian Cuisine (home of the largest Pizza Puffs in the world). The Mustangs first home meet of the season will take place on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at River Park Track for the Mather Invitational.