CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Saturday, May 5, 2007, the Northside Womens Track & Field Team traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for the Chicago Public School Track & Field Conference Championships. There are over 90 Chicago Public Schools, and over 2,700 Track & Field Athletes in the CPS Conference, making it the largest high school conference in the world. The conference is so large, that in order to have a conference championship meet, athletes must be ranked just to be invited to the qualifying meet. After the qualifying meet took place last Wednesday to determine the best 12 athletes in Chicago in the Distance events and Field events, and the best 8 athletes in Chicago in the sprinting events, the Northside Mustangs had qualified 15 athletes for the City Championships. One year ago, the Mustangs finished in eighth place in the City Championships. In 2007, the Mustangs scored 55 points, and placed fourth in Chicago. It was the highest finish in the history of the program. In the Discus, Kaitlin Renkosiak placed 2nd overall! Junior Kelly Varney placed fourth overall. In the High Jump, Jennifer Kane jumped 4'2. In the Triple Jump, Maria Torres jumped 32'09 to place sixth overall. In the 4x800m Relay, in the qualifying meet, the Mustangs broke the school record with a 10:43.12. In the Finals, Rachel Kittaka raced in the 3200m run (second overall) instead of the 4x800m relay, and alternates Amy Perez and Meghan Schmit did not show up to the meet. Could the 4x800m Relay break the record again? YES!!! Mary Shelus ran a 2:32 800m split (70/82) on the first leg of the relay. Julie Bujnowski ran NEGATIVE SPLITS for a personal best 2:36 800m split (82/74) on the second leg of the relay. Jennifer Friedmann ran an outstanding 2:59 800m split (84/95) on the third leg of the relay. Sophomore Anna Parks anchored the Mustangs to third place with a 2:35 800m split (76/79), for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 10:42!! Mary Shelus, Julie Bujnowski, Jennifer Friedmann, and Anna Parks were awarded Medals for placing third in the Varsity City Championships! In the 3200m run, Lane Tech's Stephanie Hughes dropped 5 seconds from last year, to win it with a time of 12:00. Northside Junior Rachel Kittaka placed second overall with an outstanding time of 12:23 (5:48/6:35). Northside Sophomore Ani Zotti overtook Morgan Park on the final lap to place third overall with a personal best time of 12:39 (6:08/6:31). In the 800m run, Lane Tech's Stephanie Hughes (2:30.90) edged Northside Senior Mary Shelus (2:30.94) in a photo finish for fifth place. Mary Shelus was awarded a Medal for placing sixth in the Varsity City Championships. Sophomore Anna Parks finished in seventh place with an outstanding time of 2:35. Anna Parks was awarded a Medal for placing seventh in the Varsity City Championships. In the 1600m run, Rachel Kittaka ran 79 for the first 400m, and was at 2:48 through 800m, and was at 4:20 for 1200m, and finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 5:47. Sophomore Ani Zotti was at 85 for the first 400m, and was at 2:56 through 800m, and was at 4:27 for 1200m, and finished seventh place with a personal best time of 5:58. In the 4x400m Relay, in the qualifying meet last wednesday, the Mustangs dropped seven seconds off the school record with a dramatic fifth place finish over Lawndale Prep with a time of 4:23. Could the Mustangs drop another seven seconds off the school record in less than 3 days? YES!!! The Northside Womens 4x400m relay, shocked everyone but themselves. On the first leg of the relay, Mary Shelus ran a personal best 64.52 400m split, and made a nice exchange to Julie Bujnowski. Senior Julie Bujnowski ran a personal best 62.87 400m split, and made a nice exchange to Adaora Achufusi. Sophomore Adaora Achufusi ran a personal best 64.91 400m split, and made a perfect exchange to Anna Parks. Sophomore Anna Parks anchored the relay with a 63.70 400m split, for a total time of 4:16.00, to place SECOND in the Varsity City Championships. The Mustangs are now one of the favorites to qualify in the 4x400m relay for the State Championships at IHSA State Sectionals. The Mustangs will travel to Buffalo Grove High School, on Friday, May 11, 2007, for the IHSA State Sectional Championships. VARSITY POINTS SCORED AT CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS 1. Rachel Kittaka 12.0 2. Ani Zotti 8.0 3. Kaitlin Renkosiak 8.0 4. Mary Shelus 6.5 5. Anna Parks 5.5 6. Kelly Varney 5.0 7. Julie Bujnowski 3.5 8. Maria Torres 3.0 9. Adaora Achufusi 2.0 10. Jennifer Friedmann 1.5 2007 VARSITY POINTS LEADERS (10 Meets scored) 1. Kelly Varney 83.50 2. Anna Parks 72.50 3. Maria Torres 63.75 4. Kaitlin Renkosiak 62.00 5. Julie Bujnowski 56.00 6. Rachel Kittaka 49.50 7. Carmen Abelson 29.00 8. Courtney Konow 27.75 9. Ani Zotti 27.00 10.Mary Shelus 21.50 11.Amy Perez 20.75 12.Natalie Hanigan 15.75 13.Bessie Nolan 14.50 14.Monica Laytham 14.00 14.Jessica Galang 14.00 15.Jennifer Kane 12.75 16.Jaye Gardiner 12.50 17.Maria Zdunek 11.25 18.Adaora Achufusi 9.50 19.Meghan Schmit 8.00 20.Gayatri Satam 5.25 21.Jennifer Friedman 5.00 22.Karen Li 4.50 23.Jolanda Steier 4.00 23.Alice Thatcher 4.00 24.Stephanie Sotomayor 3.25 25.Amina Jambo 2.00 26.Jennifer Mensah 1.25 The above athletes have all earned a Varisty letter this season by scoring points in a Varsity meet.

On Friday, May, 4, 2007, Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Girls Track & Field Team traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for the 2007 CPS Sophomore-Freshman Girls City Championship Meet. In the 4x800m Relay, Bessie Nolan ran the first leg of the relay with 2:55 800m split, and made a nice exchange to Alice Thatcher. Thatcher ran the second leg of the relay in 3:37 800m split, and made a nice exchange to Mahaim Haider. Freshman Mahaim Haider ran an outstanding 800m split of 3:27. The Mustangs were in sixth place, with a large lead over the seventh place squad. The anchor of the relay, Sophomore Monica Laytham was then given instructions from Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon to jog the final 800m, and save everything for the High Jump. Laytham, a sub-2:50 800m runner, followed through and anchored the Mustangs to sixth place with 3:21 800m split, for a total time of 13:20. The additional rest on the anchor leg of the relay would provide immediate dividends for the Mustangs in the High Jump. In the HIGH JUMP, Monica Laytham tied for second with three athletes with a personal best and SCHOOL RECORD tying jump of 4'6!!! Laytham was awarded 4th place overall, after the second place tie was broken by awarding second, third, and fourth place to the athlete with the least total number of misses during the competition. Monica Laytham earned a Medal for placing fourth overall in the City Championships. Laytham will attempt to break the school record at IHSA State Sectionals on Friday, May 18, 2007 at Buffalo Grove High School. In the Discus, Karen Li placed 9th overall with a throw of 56'0. In the Triple Jump, Gayatri Satam placed seventh overall with a jump of 28'0. Sophomore Carmen Abelson had one of the most difficult evenings planned, race the 3200m run, then race the 1600m run, and then travel to perform at a concert as a soloist, within minutes of the conclusion of the 1600m run. In the 3200m run, Carmen Abelson WON the Sophomore-Freshman City Championships with a time of 13:05. Freshman Jessica Tapia ran a personal best time of 16:19. In the 800m run, Bessie Nolan scored valuable points for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 2:47 to place seventh overall. In the 300m Hurdles, Maria Zdunek ran an outstanding time of sixty seconds to place sixth overall. After the Hurdles ended, it didn't look like there would be enough time for Carmen Abelson to stay for the Mile and attempt to win the City Championships in two events and still make it in time for her solo performance in the concert. The Mustangs had a TEAM effort, and raced around the Track to take all the hurdles off the track quickly, and in record time, so the Mile could start on time. However, Lane Tech's Hurdle Coach put the hurdles back on the far side of the Track in direct violation of the Meet directors instructions, because he wanted his Varsity Hurdlers to practice at the Sophomore-Freshman meet, and waited until the Mile was going to start to do it. After the unsportsman like conduct was resolved, the Mustangs were again delayed due to an actual dispute at the finish line in the Sophomore-Freshman Boys 300m hurdle finals. The Track & Field games comittee held a brief meeting at the center of the infield, and quickly resolved the dispute. The Milers were then brought out to the starting line, and the gun was fired. Northside Sophomore Carmen Abelson took the lead with an 87 for the first 400 meters of the race. Abelson went through 800 meters in 3:06, and was at 4:44 for 1200m, and outkicked a runner to the finish to WIN her second City title of the day with an outstanding Mile time of 6:10. As soon as the race ended Carmen Abelson was rushed off the Track to the concert. Carmen Abelson WON both the City Title in the 3200m run and 1600m run, and scored 20 points for the Mustangs!!! In the 4x400m Relay, Bessie Nolan ran a personal best 68.55 400m split on the first leg of the relay. Andrea Buiser ran a 88.45 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Mahaim Haider ran a 91.00 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Monica Laytham anchored the Mustangs to sixth place with a 81.00 400m split on the anchor leg of the relay, for a total time of 5:29. Chicago Vocational won the Girls Sophomore-Freshman City Championships with a record score of 170 points. The Mustangs placed fourth overall in the Sophomore-Freshman Girls City Championships. It was the highest finish in the history of the program. A special thanks to Thomas Smith for providing an outstanding meet for everyone involved. The Mustangs will begin preparing for IHSA State Sectionals on Monday, May 7, 2007, at 3:39 pm.

On Friday, May 4, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Track & Field Team Traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. (Complete Results: Coming soon)

On Thursday, May 3, 2007, Northside Pole Vaulters Vinh Nguyen, Santino Merino, Natalie Hanigan, and Bessie Nolan traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois to take on Whitney Young in the first Mens City Pole Vault Championship since 1982!! and the first Womens City Pole Vault Championship EVER!!! Northside Junior Vinh Nguyen WON the meet with a personal best vault of 7'0. Nguyen was awarded a Medal, and will also receive a City Champion patch. Nguyen was impressive throughout the competition, and on several of his misses he actually cleared the cross bar, but didn't let go of the pole. Northside Junior Santino Merino had three quality attempts at 5'6. Whitney Young's Christine Rook (9'0, will be vaulting for Hillsdale College in 2008), and Ivory Mills (7'0), finished 1st and 2nd respectively. Senior Natalie Hanigan placed 3rd with a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 6'0! Hanigan was awarded a medal for placing third. Whitney Young's Natalie Pace placed fourth overall with a vault of 5'6. Northside Freshman Bessie Nolan had three quality attempts at 5'6. The entire competition was video taped by the CPS, and is available on DVD. A special thanks to Whitney Young Head Womens Track Coach Bob Geiger for all of his efforts in promoting Pole Vault in the CPS, and his outstanding sportsmanship. Northside College Prep has no Pole Vault equipment of their own, and borrowed all of their equipment for the 2007 season, including poles, from Bob Geiger. Geiger also opened up his gym 2-3 nights a week throughout the season, and shared valuable vault time with the Mustangs. The Mustangs are looking forward to vaulting in the 2007 IHSA State Sectionals.

On Wednesday, May 2, 2007, the Northside College Prep Mens Track & Field Team traveled to Hanson Stadium on the corner of Fullerton and Central in Chicago, Illinois for the CPS Varsity Qualifying meet. The Top 12 Distance event athletes, Top 12 Field event athletes, and Top 8 Sprinting event athletes in Chicago qualify for the Varsity City Championships. In 2006, only three Northside athletes qualified for the Varsity City Championships. On Wednesday, May 2, 2007, TWELVE Northside Athletes QUALIFIED for the Varsity City Championships!!! In the Long Jump, Albert Lin jumped 17'4. In the Triple Jump, Eric Nelson QUALIFED for City Championships with a jump of 38'1.75. Albert Lin jumped 36'7. In the High Jump, Eric Nelson QUALIFED for City Championships with a jump of 5'6. Wemi Jemine QUALIFED for City Championships with a jump of 5'4. The high jump competition stopped once 18 of the 30 jumpers were elminated to reach a field of 12 for the City Championships. In the Discus, Eric Nelson threw 84'01. Robert Garcia threw 81'01. In the Shot Put, Eric Nelson threw 36'7. In the 200m Preliminaries, Geoff Edwards qualifed for the Semi-Finals with a time of 24.43. Jose Choto ran an outstanding time of 25.85. In the 4x800m Relay, John Holler ran a 2:12.76 800m split on the first leg of the relay and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Simon Vecchioni. Simon Vecchioni ran a 2:22 800m split on the second leg of the relay and made a nice exchange to Junior Harold Jaffe. Harold Jaffe ran a 2:28 800m split on the third leg of the relay. Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda anchored the Mustangs with a 2:25 800m split, for a total time of 9:27.44 to QUALIFY for the City Championships. Harold Jaffe will not be able to participate in the City Championships due to the SAT on Saturday, and an alternate will run in his place. Harold Jaffe is also being honored on Friday afternoon at the Chicago Board of Education chambers for placing in the top 12 of all high school students who participated in the CPS Latin Olympics. In the 4x100m Relay, Hunter Speese ran a 11.87 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Erik Flores ran a 13.13 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 12.27 100m split on the third leg of the Relay. Jose Choto ran a 12.45 100m split on the anchor leg of the Relay, for a total time of 49.79. In the 110m Hurdles, Albert Lin BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a time of 19.90. Santino Merino ran a time of 21.34. In the 800m run, John Holler QUALIFIED for City Championships with a 2:16.34. Simon Vecchioni ran a time of 2:25.34. In the 4x200m Relay, Hunter Speese ran a 25.34 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Santino Merino ran 26.71 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 26.29 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Jose Choto ran a 26.00 200m split on the third leg of the relay for a time of 1:44.34. In the 400m Dash, Geoff Edwards ran a time of 56.34. Erik Flores ran a time of 59.93. In the 300m Low Hurdles, Santino Merino WON his heat with a time of 52.48. In the 1600m run, Jonathan Kittaka QUALIFED for City Championships with a time of 4:57 (69/2:22/3:41/4:57). Preston Buehrer also QUALIFED for City Championships with a time of 5:01 (68/2:23/3:43/5:01). Buehrer was followed by Lake View's Alex Agafonov who qualified with an outstanding time of 5:03.85. Whitney Young's Jesse Lopez also qualified with an outstanding time of 5:04.26. Lincoln Park's Henry Mattingly also qualified with an outstanding time of 5:05.00. Jonathan Kittaka and Preston Buehrer are both being honored on Friday afternoon at the Chicago Board of Education chambers for also placing in the top 12 of all high school students who participated in the CPS Latin Olympics. In the 200m Dash Semi-Finals, Geoff Edwards ran an outstanding time of 24.42. In the 4x400, Erik Flores, Neal Capapas, John Holler and Simon Vecchioni combined for a total time of 4:00.55. The following athletes qualified for CPS City Championships on Saturday, May 5, 2007: 1. Eric Nelson - High Jump, Triple Jump 2. Wemi Jemine - High Jump 3. John Holler - 4x800m Relay, 800m 4. Simon Vecchioni - 4x800m Relay 5. Harold Jaffe - 4x800m Relay Alt. 6. Cuitlahuac Pineda - 4x800m Relay Alt. 7. Santino Merino - 4x800m Relay Alt. 8. Brian Chhun - 4x800m Relay Alt. 9. Patrick O'Connor - 4x800m Relay 10. Geoff Edwards - 4x800m Relay 11. Jonathan Kittaka - 3200m run, 1600m run 12. Preston Buehrer - 3200m run, 1600m run