CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Tuesday, May 1, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Women Track & Field Team Traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for the CPS Varsity Qualifying Meet for City Championships. The Top 12 performances in the Field Events, and Distance Events, and Top 8 performances in the sprinting events qualified for the Finals in the City Championships on Saturday, May 5, 2007. In the Discus, Kaitlin Renkosiak (74'6) and Kelly Varney (67'8) QUALIFIED for the City Championships by placing second and third respectively. In the Shot Put, the Mustangs had the number one seed (28'10) in the City, and lost vital points prior to the meet, because Courtney Konow was not able to get a new physical after it expired. However, if Konow can get a new physical prior to next Thursday, she would be eligible and able to re-join the Mustangs for IHSA State Sectionals. Kaitlin Renkosiak threw 20'03. In the High Jump, Jennifer Kane QUALIFIED for the City Championships with a Jump of 4'0. Sophomore Jennifer Friedman had three quality attempts at 4'0. In the Long Jump, Maria Torres jumped 13'9. Julie Bujnowski jumped 12'2. In the Triple Jump, Maria Torres QUALIFIED for the City Championships with a jump of 30'09. Kelly Varney jumped 28'09.5. In the 200m Dash Preliminaries, Natalie Hanigan ran a personal best time of 28.76. Maria Torres ran a outstanding time of 30.21. In the 800m Sprint Medley Relay, Kaitlin Renkosiak ran a 14.92 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Senior Jessica Galang ran a 18.89 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Senior Jaye Gardiner ran a 31.03 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Junior Meghan Schmit anchored the relay with a 75.72 400m split for a total time of 2:20.33. In the 4x800m Relay, Senior Mary Shelus ran a 2:39 800m split (71/88) on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Julie Bujnowski. Senior Julie Bujnowski ran a 2:40 800m split (73/87) on the second leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Rachel Kittaka. Junior Rachel Kittaka ran a 2:43 800m split (75/88) on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Anna Parks. Sophomore Anna Parks anchored the Mustangs to second place over to QUALIFY for City Championships, with a 2:41 800m split (72/89), for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 10:43.14. In the 4x100m Relay, Sophomore Jennifer Kane ran a 13.76 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Maria Torres ran a 13.51 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Adaora Achufusi ran a 14.23 100m split on the third leg of the relay. Senior Natalie Hanigan anchored the Mustangs with a 13.99 100m split, for a total time of 55.49. In the 800m run, Northside Senior Mary Shelus upset Lane Tech's Stephanie Hughes to WIN her heat, and QUALIFIED for City Championships with a time of 2:35 (73/82). Sophomore Anna Parks WON her heat, and QUALIFIED for City Championships with a time of 2:39 (78/81). In the 4x200m Relay, Natalie Hanigan ran a 29.90 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Jennifer Kane ran a 28.85 200m split on the second leg of the Relay. Adaora Achufusi ran a 29.68 200m split on the third leg of the Relay. Kelly Varney ran a 28.45 200m split on the fourth leg of Relay, for a total time of 1:56.88. In the 400m Dash, Julie Bujnowski ran a time of 65.43. Adaora Achufusi ran a time of 67.74. In the 300m Hurdles, Senior Amy Perez BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a time of 54.34. Alex Custer ran a personal best time of 65.78. In the Mile, Rachel Kittaka ran an aggressive race, and QUALIFED for City Championships with an outstanding time of 5:45 (77/2:43/4:15/5:45). Sophomore Ani Zotti QUALIFED for City Championships with a personal best time of 5:59 (85/2:56/4:28/5:59). In the 4x400m Relay, the Northside Mustangs broke the school record by seven seconds!!! Senior Mary Shelus ran a 64.63 400m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Julie Bujnowski. Julie Bujnowski ran a 64.51 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Adaora Achufusi ran a 67.89 400m split on the third leg of the relay. The Mustangs trailed Lawndale Prep by 100m, when Sophomore Anna Parks received the baton. Parks ran after Lawndale Prep, and edged the runner from Lawndale Prep at the line by .05 of a second to place fifth overall, with a 66.60 400m split, and QUALIFIED for the City Championships with a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 4:23.63. A special thanks to Coach John Gallen for providing the Team with Gatorade at his own expense. The following athletes have qualified for City Championships on Saturday, May 5, 2007: 1. Kaitlin Renkosiak - Discus 2. Kelly Varney - Discus 3. Jennifer Kane - High Jump 4. Maria Torres - Triple Jump 5. Mary Shelus - 4x800m Relay, 800m run, 4x400m Relay 6. Julie Bujnowski - 4x800m Relay, 4x400m Relay 7. Rachel Kittaka - 3200m run, 1600m run 8. Amy Perez - 4x800m Relay 9. Jennifer Friedman - 4x800m Relay Alt. 10. Meghan Schmit - 4x800m Relay Alt., 4x400m Relay Alt. 11. Anna Parks - 4x800m Relay, 800m run, 4x400m Relay 12. Ani Zotti - 3200m run, 1600m run 13. Adaora Achufusi - 4x400m Relay 14. Natalie Hanigan - 4x400m Relay Alt. 15. Jessica Galang - 4x400m Relay Alt.

On Monday, April 30, 2007, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, and Associate Coach David Diaz attended the seed meeting for the CPS Varsity qualifying meet at King High School from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to disclose which athletes were selected based on verified seed times, distances, or heights to be invited to compete for the City Championship in the qualifying meet. With over 94 Chicago Public Schools, events were limited to the Top 24 to Top 50 athletes in the City, depending on the event. Several coaches went home unhappy when they learned their athletes did not make it into the meet. Both Coach Gordon and Coach Diaz had smiles on their faces throughout the meeting, as it was disclosed that 100% of Northside Athletes are in the qualifying meet in one or more events, and the Mustangs will have athletes competing in 99% of the events, including ALL relays. It is the most athletes Northside has ever had in the Varsity qualifying meet in the history of the program. The dedication and work ethic of the Northside College Prep Track & Field Team is second to none. The Varsity Women will leave at 1:45 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, for the Varsity Women CPS Qualifying Meet. The Varsity Men will leave at 1:45 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, for the Varsity Men CPS Qualifying Meet. Athletes that place in the Top 12 for distance events, Top 12 for field events, and Top 8 for sprinting events will advance to the CPS Championship Track Meet on Saturday, May 5, 2007.

On Saturday, April 28, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Track & Field Team traveled to Eckersal Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for CPS Qualifying Meet for City Championships. The Top 12 Field Events athletes, Top 12 Distance Events athletes, and Top 8 Sprinting Events athletes qualified for the City Championships. In the Discus, Sophomore Gustavo Hernandez threw 65'0. Freshman Alejandro Valdivieso threw a personal best 50'8. In the Shot Put, Freshman Alejandro Valdivieso threw 25'3. Sophomore Gustavo Hernandez threw 19'8. In the Long Jump, Thomas Nguyen jumped 12'10. The Mustangs were without Sophomore Martin Melto (17'5.75) due to a back injury. In the Tripe Jump, Jiasong Yang qualified for City Championships with a jump of 31'7. In the High Jump, Neibu Tadele had three quality attempts at 4'8. Tenzin Wangdhen did not show up to the meet. In the 4x800m Relay, Clemente was disqualifed at the starting line for wearing jewelry, and Lane Tech was disqualified for a relay card infraction. The Northside College Prep 4x800m Relay qualified for City Championships and featured an all Freshman relay. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a 2:27 800m split (70/77), and made a nice exchange to Nick Ruff. Freshman Nick Ruff ran the first 400m in 74 seconds, and then ran NEGATIVE SPLITS, with the second 400m in 71 seconds for a personal best 2:25 800m split (74/71), and then made a nice exchange to Cooper Eben. Freshman Cooper Eben ran a personal best 2:32 800m split (74/78), and made a great exchange to Jiasong Yang. Freshman Jiasong Yang anchored the Mustangs to 2nd in their heat, and fifth overall, to qualify for CPS City Championships, with a 2:20 800m split (66/74), for a total time of 9:44. In the 4x100m Relay, Freshman Sam Olver ran a 12.44 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Sophomore Nathan Michaelson ran a 13.85 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Thomas Nguyen ran a 14.25 100m split on the third leg of the relay. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a 13.57 100m split to anchor the Mustangs to a total time of 54.11. In the 100m Hurdles, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon qualified for City Championships with an outstanding time of 21.89. In the 100m Dash, Freshman Peter Wilk ran a personal best time of 13.69. Sam Olver ran a time of 14.27. In the 800m run, Freshman James Rey ran a personal best time of 2:45 (78/87). Sophomore Coleman Gailloreto ran a time of 2:57 (80/97). In the 4x200m Relay, Freshman Sam Olver ran a 28.49 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Sophomore Nathan Michaelson ran a 30.31 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Thomas Nguyen ran a 27.73 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a 28.90 200m split on the anchor leg of relay, for a total time of 1:55.43. However, an IHSA official "DQ" Northside for allegedly stepping outside of the line on the anchor leg of the relay. In the 400m Dash, Freshman Nick Ruff ran a personal best time of 60.10. Freshman Jared Goldstein ran a personal best time of 71.86. In the 300m Hurdles, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a time of 53.83. Sophomore Gustavo Hernandez ran a personal best time of 57.57. In the 1600m Run, Jaisong Yang qualified for City Championships by dropping six seconds off his PR, with a personal best time of 5:19 (70/80/85/84). Freshman Cooper Eben dropped 14 seconds off his PR, with a personal best time of 5:32 (76/87/87/82). Eben missed qualifying for City Championships in the mile by only 1 second. However, Cooper Eben will be racing in the 3200m run in the City Championships, and also helped the 4x800m Relay qualify for City Championships. In the 200m Dash, Freshman Nick Ruff ran a personal best time of 28.59. Freshman Alejandro Valdivieso ran a time of 31.13. In the 4x400m Relay, Freshman Sam Olver ran a personal best 66.25 400m split on the first leg of the relay. Sophomore Nathan Michaelson ran a personal best 67.90 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a personal best 64.94 400m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Andrew Czyszczon anchored the Mustangs with a personal best 61.48 400m split, for a total time of 4:20.57. The following athletes qualified for CPS Sophomore-Freshman City Championships: 1. Jiasong Yang - Triple Jump, 3200m Run, 1600m Run 2. Cooper Eben - 3200m Run 3. Andrew Czyszczon - 4x800m Relay, 110m Hurdles 4. Nick Ruff - 4x800m Relay 5. James Rey - 4x800m Relay 6. Coleman Gailloreto - 4x800m Relay Alt. 7. Jared Goldstein - 4x800m Relay 8. Gustavo Hernandez - 4x800m Relay Alt. The bus will leave at 1:45 pm on Friday, May 4, 2007, to Hanson Stadium for the City Championships.

On Friday, April 27, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Men Track & Field Team traveled to Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois at William Lutz Stadium for the 45th Annual Spartan Relays. The Spartan Relays is the most competitive Relays meet in Illinois, and the field included York, Lake Zurich, Deerfield, Glenbrook South, Maine South, Vernon Hills, Loyola, Northside College Prep, Highland Park, New Trier, Stevenson and host Glenbrook North. All events, including field events, were relays, and the meet was scored on the following scale: 10-8-6-4-2-1. Medals were awarded for first through third place, and ribbons were awarded for fourth through sixth place. The meet was the most well-run meet the Mustangs attended this season. In the Discus, four throwers from each school were given three trials, and the Team scored was determined by the total distance of each school. The Mustangs were without Sophomore Eric Nelson due to illness, and Senior John Holler took his place with a personal best throw of 58'1. Senior Darrel Johnson threw a personal best 76'8. Junior Preston Buehrer threw a personal best 77'11. Senior Robert Garcia threw 80'10, for a Team total of 293'04. In the Shot Put, Darrel Johnson threw 30'6. Robert Garcia threw 30'4. Vinh Nguyen threw 23'00. Joey Paquette threw a personal best 20'10.25, for a Team total of 104' 7.25. In the High Jump, Albert Lin, Simon Vecchioni, and Hunter Speese had three quality attempts at 5'0. Geoff Edwards jumped a personal best 5'0. In the Long Jump, Albert Lin jumped a personal best 17'11. Brian Chhun jumped 13'0. Vinh Nguyen jumped 12'10, and Jiasong Yang jumped 11'0, for a Team total of 54'8. In the High Hurdle Shuttle Relay (4x110m), Highland Park (1:26.50), and Vernon Hills (1:27.30), edged Northside (1:27.80) in the first heat. Northside Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a 22.01 110m split on the first leg of the relay. Junior Santino Merino ran a 22.09 110m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Jaisong Yang ran a 23.23 110m split on the third leg of the relay. Sophomore Albert Lin anchored the Mustangs, with a 20.46 110m split for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 1:27.80. The 4x800m Relay, featured nationally ranked York High School and Loyola as the favorites. Northside Junior Preston Buehrer ran a 63 for the first 400m, and a 2:15 800m split (63/72) on the first leg of the 4x800m Relay, and made a nice exchange to Jonathan Kittaka. Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka ran a 2:16 (67/69) on the second leg of the Relay. Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran a 2:21 800m split (63/78) on the third leg of the Relay. Senior John Holler ran a 2:14 800m split (62/72), and anchored the Mustangs over host Glenbrook North High School (9:35.10), with a time of 9:06! Loyola won it with an outstanding time of 8:01.20. York ran a time of 8:26.70. Vernon Hills held off Northside with a time of 9:05.10. In the 4x100m Relay, the Mustangs upset New Trier (49.60) and Vernon Hills (49.60) with an outstanding time of 49.37. Freshman Hunter Speese ran a 12.17 100m split on the first leg of the Relay. Erik Flores ran a 12.82 100m split on the second leg of the Relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 12.66 100m split on the third leg of the Relay. Jose Choto anchored the Mustangs with a 11.62 100m split for a total time of 49.37. It was the second fastest 4x100m Relay in Northside history. In the Distance Medley Relay, Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda ran an outstanding 1200m time of 3:47 (70/78/79) on the first leg of the relay. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a 64 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Junior Santino Merino ran a 2:27 800m split (70/77) on the third leg of the relay. Junior Harold Jaffe anchored the Distance Medley Relay with a 5:24 Mile, for a total time of 12:42. In the Middle Distance Medley Relay, Sophomore Brian Chhun ran a 25.38 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Senior Joey Paquette ran a 31.03 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 60.05 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Sophomore Simon Vecchioni anchored the Mustangs, with a 2:25.64 800m split, for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 4:22.10 In the Sprint Medley Relay, Freshman Hunter Speese ran a 11.94 100m split on the first leg of the Relay. Junior Erik Flores ran a 12.66 100m split on the second leg of the Relay. Junior Jose Choto ran a 25.05 200m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Captain Geoff Edwards. Senior Geoff Edwards anchored the Mustangs, and passed Highland Park High School and Vernon Hills, with a 55.39 400m split!, for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 1:44.94. Seventeen years ago (1990), Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon helped the Glenbrook North Spartans win the 4x1 Mile Relay at Spartan Relays. In 2007, Could the Northside College Prep Mustangs beat his alma matter for him in the 4x1 Mile? Yes!! On the first leg of the 6400m Relay (4x1 Mile), Captain Preston Buehrer ran an outstanding Mile split of 5:05 (71/79/81/74), and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka. Jonathan Kittaka ran a personal best Mile split of 4:52 (71/76/75/70), and made a nice exchange to Senior John Holler. John Holler ran an outstanding Mile Split of 5:07 (71/79/79/78) and made a nice exchange to Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda. Cuitlahuac Pineda anchored the Mustangs and outkicked Highland Park (20:17) in the final 200m to the finish with a personal best Mile split of 5:12 (71/82/83/76), for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 20:16.30. The Mustangs edged Highland Park (20:17) at the finish, and upset host Glenbrook North (20:56). In the 4x200m Relay, Freshman Hunter Speese ran a 24.73 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Sophomore Santino Merino ran a 26.18 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 25.27 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Erik Flores anchored the Mustangs, with a 27.02 200m split, for a total time of 1:43.30. In the Low Hurdle Shuttle Relay (4x110m), Sophomore Albert Lin ran a 16.62 110m split on the first leg of the relay. Junior Vinh Nguyen ran a 19.08 110m split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran 18.48 110m split on the third leg of the relay. Junior Santino Merino anchored the Mustangs, with a 16.31 110m split, for a NEW SCHOL RECORD of 1:10.49. In the Weightmens Relay, Preston Buehrer ran a 12.70 100m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Vinh Nguyen. Junior Vinh Nguyen ran a 12.85 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Senior Joey Paquette ran a 12.77 100m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to John Holler. Senior John Holler anchored the Mustangs to a fifth place tie, with Highland Park, with a 12.88 100m split, for a total time of 53.20 to break the SCHOOL RECORD! Preston Buehrer, Vinh Nguyen, Joey Paquette, and John Holler were awarded a ribbon for tieing for fifth place. In the 4x400m Relay, Junior Erik Flores ran a 56.90 400m split on the first leg of the relay. Brian Chhun ran a 57.97 400m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Junior Jose Choto. Jose Choto ran a 62.45 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Sophomore Simon Vecchioni anchored the Mustangs, with an outstanding 60.85 400m split, for a total time of 3:58.17. VARSITY POINTS SCORED AT SPARTAN RELAYS 1. Preston Buehrer 0.375 1. Vinh Nguyen 0.375 1. Joey Paquette 0.375 1. John Holler 0.375 VARSITY POINTS SEASON LEADERS (13 Meets) 1. Jonathan Kittaka 63.25 2. Eric Nelson 51.00 3. Geoff Edwards 46.00 4. Preston Buehrer 40.37 5. Albert Lin 21.00 6. Patrick O'Connor 19.75 7. Santino Merino 17.50 8. John Holler 16.62 9. Simon Vecchioni 16.00 10.Jose Choto 14.75 11.Erik Flores 11.50 12.Benjamin Garcia 11.00 13.Cuitlahuac Pineda 10.25 14.Wemi Jemine 10.00 15.Vinh Nguyen 8.87 16.Harold Jaffe 8.00 17.Martin Melto 7.75 18.Hunter Speese 7.50 19.Andrew Czyszczon 7.00 20.Brian Chhun 6.00 21.Neal Capapas 5.75 22.Robert Garcia 3.50 23.Joey Paquette 2.37 24.Gustavo Hernandez 2.00 25.Darrel Johnson 1.50 26.Nick Ruff 1.00 26.Faraz Khan 1.00 26.Adam Swiatlowski 1.00 27.Peter Wilk 0.75 28.Omer Aba-Omer 0.50 The above athletes have earned a Varsity letter this season by scoring at the Varsity level.

On Friday, April 27, 2007, the Northside Sophomore-Freshman Girls traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for CPS Sophomore-Freshman Girls Qualifying Meet for City Championships. The Top 12 field event athletes, Top 12 in Distance events, and Top 8 in sprinting event athletes qualify for the City Championships, which will be held on Friday, May 4, 2007. Due to a late arriving bus, the Mustangs were unable to compete in the 100m dash or the Sprint Medley Relay. In the Long Jump, Sophomore Maria Zdunek jumped 10'10 to qualify for the City Championships. Sophomore Amina Jambo did not show up to the meet, and had to be scratched. In the Triple Jump, Sophomore Gayatri Satam jumped 27'8 to qualify for the City Championships. Sophomore Amina Jambo did not show up to the meet, and had to be scratched from the Triple Jump. Substitutions are prohibited during the CPS Championships series. In the Discus, Karen Li qualifed for the CPS Championships with a personal best throw of 52'9. Jennifer Mensah threw 33'04. In the Shot Put, Brittany Brown threw 17'4. Jennifer Mensah threw 13'8. In the High Jump, Sophomore Monica Laytham qualified for City Championships with a jump of 3'6. In the 4x800m Relay, Northside College Prep qualifed for City Championships with a time of 12:29.55. In the 4x100m Relay, Northside College Prep ran at ime of 62.73. In the 100m Hurdles, Karen Li ran a time of 21.76. Alice Thatcher ran a time of 24.51. In the 800m run, Freshman Bessie Nolan qualified for City Championships with a time of 2:50.33. Freshman Maham Haider ran a time of 3:21.41. In the 4x200m Relay, Northside College Prep ran a time of 2:12.67. In the 400m Dash, Karen Li ran a time of 73.25. Jessica Tapia ran a time of 84.74. In the 300m Hurdles, Maria Zdunek qualifed for City Championships with a time of 60.95. Alice Thatcher ran a time of 72.58. In the Mile, Carmen Abelson qualified for City Championships with a time of 6:07. Monica Laytham ran an outstanding time of 7:07.90. In the 200m Dash, Ursula Moreno-Vanderlaan ran a time of 36.29. Sophmore Stephanie Sotomayor left the meet before her event, costing the Mustangs vital points. In the 4x400m Relay, Northside College Prep qualifed for City Championships with a time of 5:31.67. The following athletes qualified for Northside College Prep for the 2007 CPS Sophomore-Freshman Championships: 1. Karen Li - Discus 2. Maria Zdunek - Long Jump, 300m Hurdles 3. Gayatri Satam - Triple Jump 4. Monica Laytham - High Jump, 4x800m Relay, 4x400m Relay 5. Jessica Tapia - 3200m run 6. Carmen Abelson - 3200m run, 1600m run 7. Bessie Nolan - 4x800m Relay, 800m run, 4x400m Relay 8. Alice Thatcher - 4x800m Relay 9. Mahaim Haider - 4x800m Relay, 4x400m Relay 10. Ursula Moreno-Vanderlaan - 4x400m Relay 11. Andrea Buiser - 4x400m Relay The bus will leave at 1:45 pm for the Sophomore-Freshman City Championships on Friday, May 4, 2007.