CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Friday, March 30, 2007, Sophomore Anna Parks, Senior Julie Bujnowski, Sophomore Ani Zotti, Junior Rachel Kittaka, and Sophomore Maria Torres traveled to Bloomington, Illinois to prepare for 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. Trophies were awarded to the Top 3 Athletes and/or Relays in each event, and Medals were awarded for places 4th-6th. After the National anthem, Maria Torres was brought onto the Track and to the long jump pit. Maria Torres was the youngest jumper to qualify for the meet, and jumped 33'06.25, 33'07.25, and 33'08.25 to finish 19th in the State. After the 200m Dash reached its conclusion, the Mustangs Distance Medely Team was brought onto the Track. The Distance Medley Relay (herein "DMR") consisted of 800m, 400m, 1200m, and the Mile. The school record for the DMR was 14:54, set in 2006 by -Anna Parks, Julie Bujnowski, Rachel Kittaka, and Maruja Yoshimura. Anna Parks, Julie Bujnowski, Ani Zotti, and Rachel Kittaka BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD in the Distance Medely Relay by over a minute!, with an outstanding time of 13:28.20!!! The Mustangs upset Lake Zurich (13:33.84), Glenbrook South (14:06.31), and Argo (14:06.33), to finish 9th overall, and were within 2.5 seconds of reaching the Medal stand. Distance Medley Results 1 Palatine 13:08.02 2 Chicago St. Ignatius 13:14.94 3 Chicago Whitney Young 13:21.92 4 West Chicago 13:22.96 5 Skokie Niles West 13:23.86 6 Downers Grove South 13:25.76 7 Tinley Park Andrew 13:26.71 8 Rockton Hononegah 13:27.50 9 Chicago Northside College Prep 13:28.21 10 Lake Zurich 13:33.84 11 Glenview Glenbrook South 14:06.31 12 Argo 14:06.33 Sophomore Anna Parks led off the Distance Medley Relay with a 34 seconds split for the first 200m of the 800m leg of the DMR, and followed it was a 36 seconds split on the second 200m, for a 70 seconds 400m split. Parks ran another 43 seconds split on the third 200m, for a 1:53 600m split. Anna Parks finished the 800m leg of the Distance Medley Relay with a 39 seconds 200m split, for an outstanding 800m time of 2:32. Anna Parks made a nice exchange to Julie Bujnowski. Senior Julie Bujnowski ran the first 200m of the 400m leg of the DMR in 31.00 seconds. Bujnowski ran a 33.57 split on the second 200m, for a 64.57 400m split!!! Julie Bujnowski made a nice exchange to Ani Zotti. Sophomore Ani Zotti ran the first 200m of the 1200m leg of the DMR in 34.43 seconds. Zotti ran a 41 seconds split on the second 200m of the 1200m leg of the DMR for a 400m split of 75.43 seconds. Zotti ran the second 400m split (44/44) in 88 seconds, for an 800m split of 2:43.43. Ani Zotti a 91 seconds 400m split (45/46) on the final 400m of the 1200m leg of the DMR, for a personal best 1200m split of 4:13.43!!! Ani Zotti made a nice exchange to Captain Rachel Kittaka. Junior Rachel Kittaka ran the first 200m of the 1600m leg of the DMR in 35 seconds. Kittaka ran a 37 seconds split on the second 200m of the 1600m leg of the DMR for a 400m split of 72 seconds. Kittaka ran the second 400m split (43/45) in 88 seconds, for an 800m split of 2:40. Rachel Kittaka ran the third 400m split (48/44) in 91 seconds, for a 1200m split of 4:12. Rachel Kittaka ran the final 400m (46/40.20) in 86.20 seconds, a negative split, for a personal best mile time of 5:38.20!!! Rachel Kittaka, on her birthday, anchored the Mustangs to a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 13:28.21!! 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.