CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, the Northside Mens Track & Field traveled to Bensenville, Illinois for the Fenton Indoor Classic. The Mustangs encourted a lot of setbacks prior to the meet, including the bus arriving 30 minutes late, and athletes Wemi Jemi, Shaheed Ghogha, Omer Aba-Omer, Darrel Johnson, Gustavo Hernandez, Max Brown not at the Meet without any notice to the coaching staff. Geoff Edwards and James Rey were also not at the meet due to illness. Jose Choto (ACT preparation), Brad Eben (SAT Preparation), Erik Flores (ACT Preparation), John Holler (Scholarship commitment), and Prasanth Bijjam all properly notified the coaching staff a week in advance that they would be unable to attend the meet. Therefore, due the missing athletes, the Mustangs were forced to call upon Freshman Hunter Speese, Neal Capapas, and Peter Wilk to compete at the Varsity level, and they all came through big for the Mustangs, scoring points in their very first Varsity meet. Also, several Varsity athletes took on additional events to help fill in for the missing Northside athletes. In the Varsity Long Jump, Sophomore Albert Lin placed third overall with a personal best jump of 17'7.5. Lin lead the Mustangs in scoring by placing in four event with four Personal Records! Sophomore Martin Melto also had a personal best jump of 16'11. Freshman Hunter Speese jumped 14'6.75. Freshman Neal Capapas improved 1'0 for a personal best jump of 14'5! In the Sophomore/Freshman Long Jump, Freshman Jaisong Yang jumped a personal record 13'6. Prior to the Fenton Indoor Classic, Sophomore Albert Lin had not jumped in a meet since the 2006 IHSA Sectional Championships because Basketball season just recently ended. Albert Lin was also without track spikes because they are prohibited at Bison Stadium, and was forced to use basketball shoes. Despite the above circumstances, in his first meet of the season, in the Varsity Triple Jump, Albert Lin placed second overall with a personal best jump of 37'2!!! In the Sophomore/Freshman Triple Jump, Freshman Jaisong Yang improved 1'0 for a personal best jump of 28'11. Yang placed third overall in the Sophomore/Freshman Triple Jump. In the Varsity High Jump, Freshman Hunter Speese placed third overall with a personal best jump of 5'2. Junior Sean Kung also jumped a personal best 4'8. In the Varsity 4x800m Relay, Senior Captain Patrick O'Connor appeared in his first meet in 2007. On the first day of practice this season, Patrick O'Connor suffered a stress fracture right below his knee. While recovering, Patrick O'Connor's strong leadership skills and determination have been priceless to the Mustangs. During his re-hab, O'Connor improved his strength dramatically, by becoming a member of 20 Pulls-Club with 21 Pull-ups, and increased his strength in Squats and Bench Press as well. While injuried, Patrick O'Connor primarily trained by running in the deep end (12 feet) of the Northside swimming pool, and even ran intervals in the pool as well. As the Mustangs gradually increase his mileage, he will have a major impact for the Mustangs, and was already the Mustangs top 800m runner and Miler at the Fenton Indoor Classic. On the first leg of the Varsity 4x800m Relay, Patrick O'Connor ran an 800m time of 2:23 and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Simon Vecchioni. Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran an 800m time of 2:29. On the third leg of the 4x800m Relay, Junior Santino Merino ran an 800m time of 3:07. Officials believe Merino may have ran an extra lap. Sophomore Brian Chhun anchored the relay to third place with an 800m split of 2:47, for a total time of 10:46. The Sophomore/Freshman 4x800m Relay had to be scratched due Gustavo Hernandez not showing up to the meet, and Freshman Thomas Nguyen, Sophomore Nathan Michaelson, and Sophomore Ted Kalaw physicals expiring March 1, 2007. In the Varsity 4x135 Yards Relay, Junior Santino Merino ran a 15.82 split on the first leg of the Relay. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a 17.59 split on the second leg of the Relay. Junior Sean Kung ran a 17.35 split on the third leg of the Relay. Freshman Neal Capapas anchored the Relay to third place with a 17.35 split, for a total time of 1:09.34. In the Sophomore/Freshman 4x135 Yards Relay, Sophomore Coleman Gailloreto ran a 20.61 split on the 1st leg of the Relay. Freshman Sam Olver ran a 20.31 split on the second leg of the 4x135 Yards Relay. Freshman Neibu Tadele ran a 21.81 split on the third leg of the Relay. Freshman Tenzin Wangdhen anchored the Relay to third place with a 20.12 split, for a total time of 1:22.85. In the Varsity 3200m run, the Mustangs were looking forward to taking on Fenton Track Star Nathan Smith. But after two impressive meets in the 3200m run this season, Smith was resting for the Mile, and not racing in the 3200m. With Smith not racing, the Mustangs knew at the starting line that it would be a battle between Northside athletes for the top places in the 3200m run. In 2006, Northside Preston Buehrer placed third in the Varsity 3200m run at the Fenton Indoor Classic with a two mile time of 12:04. In 2007, Northside Captain Preston Buehrer dropped 40 seconds in one year to WIN the Fenton Indoor Classic 3200m run with an Outstanding time of 11:24 (5:30/5:54). Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka placed second overall with a time of 11:32 (5:31/6:03). Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda placed third overall with an outstanding time of 12:03 (5:55/6:08). Junior Faraz Khan completed the scoring in the 3200m run by placing fourth overall with a time of 13:25 (6:11/7:14). Khan earned his first Varsity letter in Track by scoring in the meet. Senior Joey Paquette placed fifth overall with a time of 13:40 (6:20/7:20). In Sophomore/Freshman 3200m run, Cooper Eben placed third overall with an outstanding time of 13:20 (6:08/7:12). In the Varsity Shot Put, Senior Elliot Rembert threw a personal best 25'10. After completion of the Two Mile run, Junior Preston Buehrer threw the shot put 25'4. Senior Robert Garcia threw 24'7. Junior Irfan Hussain threw 23'0. Junior Vingh Nguyen tied his PR with a throw of 21'6. In the Sophomore/Freshman Shot Put, Sophomore Captain Eric Nelson appeared in his first Track meet in 2007. Eric Nelson was one of the mustangs top jumpers, hurdlers, and sprinters in 2006. During an outstanding basketball season, Eric Nelson hurt his ankle, and is currently unable to run or jump, and has been limited to re-hab exercises and strength training. Eric Nelson has shown great dedication in the weight room, and has increased his strength dramatically, and just learned how to throw a Shot Put last Friday in an effort to help his teammates at the Fenton Indoor Classic. After only three standing throws in practice, Eric Nelson learned the glide. Eric Nelson showed great mental toughness and determination, and threw a Personal Best 34'10 to place Third overall in the Fenton Indoor Classic. In his first meet ever throwing a Shot Put, Eric Nelson threw 9'0 farther than his teammates and was within 2'2 of the school record!! Freshman Alejandro Valdivieso threw a personal best 24'1 in the Sophomore/Freshman Shot Put. Freshman Tenzin Wangdhen threw a personal best 19'6 in the Shot Put. Freshman Neibu Tadele threw a personal best 18'6. In the Varsity 50 Yard High Hurdles, Sophomore Albert Lin placed 3rd overall with a personal best time of 8.49. In the Freshman 50 Yard High Hurdles, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon placed 4th overall with a personal best time of 9.46. In the Varsity 800m run, Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran an outstanding time of 2:27. Junior Harold Jaffe ran an outstanding time of 2:31. Sophomore Brian Chhun ran a time of 2:42, which was 5 seconds faster than his relay split in the 4x800m relay. Junior Andrew Jacob ran a time of 2:43. Junior Irfan Hussain ran a time of 2:48. In the Sophomore/Freshman 800m run, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon placed fourth overall with a time of 2:42. Sophomore Coleman Gailloreto placed sixth overall with a time of 3:08. In the Varsity 4x270 Yards Relay, the Mustangs upset Contant for 2nd place, with a total time of 2:30.46. Sophomore Martin Melto ran a 36.74 split on the first leg of the Relay. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a 39.87 split on the second leg of the Relay. Santino Merino ran a 35.59 split on the third leg of the Relay. Freshman Neal Capapas anchored the Relay to second place with a 38.46 split, for a total time of 2:30.46. The Sophomore/Freshman 4x270 Yards Relay was scractched due to Gustavo Hernandez not showing up to the meet, and Freshman Thomas Nguyen, and Sophomore Nathan Michaelson physicals expiring March 1, 2007. In the Varsity 400m run, Junior Sean Kung ran a personal best time of 65.14, dropping 1.16 seconds off his PR. Freshman Hunter Speese was in contention with the leaders, on a sub-60 pace through 300 meters, but the Athlete from Contant accidently stepped on the back of Speese's shoe during the race, causing the shoe to fly off. Hunter Speese showed great mental toughness staying in the race, but the incident caused both athletes to stop momentarily and Speese was unable to maintain the same speed with only one shoe. Based on an outstanding 300 meters prior to the accident, the Mustangs look forward to Speese next 400m race. In Sophomore/Freshman 400m run, Freshman Sam Olver ran a personal best time of 74.23. In the Varsity 50 Yard Int. Hurdles, Sophomore Albert Lin placed third overall with a time of 8.23. Junior Santino Merino placed fourth overall with a personal best time of 8.90 to secure vital points for the Mustangs. In the Sophomore/Freshman 50 Yard Int. Hurdles, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon placed fourth overall with a personal best time of 9.43. In the Varsity Mile Run, Senior Patrick O'Connor lead the Mustangs with a 5:27. Junior Preston Buehrer ran a 5:28. Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka ran a 5:33. Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda ran a personal best time of 5:34. Junior Harold Jaffe ran a time of 5:42. In the Sophomore/Freshman Mile Run, Freshman Jaisong Yang ran a personal best time of 5:33. Freshman Cooper Eben ran an outstanding time of 5:52. In the Varsity 200m Dash, Freshman Hunter Speese ran an outstanding time of 27.47. Freshman Neal Capapas also ran an outstanding time of 28.10 Junior Sean Kung ran a personal best time of 29.17. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a time of 30.20. In the Sophomore/Freshman 200m Dash, Sam Olver ran a time of 32.06. In the Varsity Weightmans Relay, the Mustangs were unable to score any points because Senior Robert Garcia and Senior Elliot Rembert could not run one lap, leaving the Mustangs with only 2 available athletes for the Weightmans Relay. Irfan Hussain and Vingh Nguyen were both prepared to race in the Weightmans Relay, but it takes four athletes for a Relay. Northside Captain Preston Buehrer offered to run in the relay to help his teammates, but was already in four events, and IHSA rules only allow an athlete to participate in four events in a single meet. The Mustangs were forced to scratch the Relay, and sacerfice points. In the Sophomore/Freshman Weightmans Relay, Freshman Neibu Tadele, Alejandro Valdivieso, and Tenzin Wangdhen were prepared to run, but Sophomore Gustavo Hernandez did not show up to the meet, so the Relay had to be scratched. In the Sophomore/Freshman 4x405 Yards Relay, the Freshman were prepared to race. But Freshman Neal Capapas and Freshman Peter Wilk had to be promoted prior to the meet to the Varsity Team to replace missing Varsity athletes. Both Capapas and Wilk came through for the Mustangs, earning Varsity letters, by scoring points in the 4x270 Yards Relay. However, it left the Sophomore/Freshman 4x405 Relay without enough athletes for the 4x405 Yards Relay, so it had to be scratched. In the Varsity 4x405 Yards Relay, Sophomore Martin Melto ran a 60.80 split on the first leg and made a nice exchange to Simon Vecchionni. Sophomore Simon Vecchionni ran a 60.65 split on the second leg of the relay. Sophomore Brian Chhun ran 62.41 split on the third leg of the relay. Junior Preston Buehrer, after running the 3200m run, and the Mile, anchored the 4x405 Yards Relay for the Mustangs to third place, with an outstanding 59.50 split, for a total time of 4:02.30. The Meet featured three Teams, Fenton, Constant, and Northside College Prep. The point scale for Relays was 5-3, and for individual events was 5-3-2-1. Fenton Indoor Classic Varsity Point Leaders 1. Albert Lin 9 2. Preston Buehrer 5 3. Jonathan Kittaka 3 4. Cuitlahuac Pineda 2 4. Hunter Speese 2 5. Santino Merino 1.75 6. Faraz Khan 1.0 7. Neal Capapas 0.75 7. Martin Melto 0.75 7. Peter Wilk 0.75 VARSITY POINTS SEASON LEADERS (3 Meets) 1. Benjamin Garcia 11.00 2. Albert Lin 9.00 3. Preston Buehrer 7.00 3. Geoff Edwards 7.00 4. Santino Merino 5.75 5. Jose Choto 3.00 5. Jonathan Kittaka 3.00 6. Martin Melton 2.75 7. John Holler 2.50 8. Cuitlahuac Pineda 2.00 8. Hunter Speese 2.00 9. Darrel Johnson 1.50 9. Robert Garcia 1.50 9. Vingh Nguyen 1.50 9. Erik Flores 1.50 10. Faraz Khan 1.00 11. Neal Capapas 0.75 11. Peter Wilk 0.75 12. Simon Vecchioni 0.50 12. Omer Aba-Omer 0.50 (Coming soon: Sophomore-Freshman Point Totals and Leaders)