CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

Fri. January 12, 2007 Boys Track & Field Team Meeting 3:30 pm Team Captains/Coaching Staff Dinner 5:00 pm Sat January 13, 2007 Illinois Track & Field Coaches Association 8:00 am (Coaching Staff only) Tue January 16, 2007 First Official Day of Practice 3:45 pm Fri January 19, 2007 King of the Quarter - North Park Univ. 7-9 pm (400m Time Trial) Fri January 26, 2007 Northside Track & Field Parents Meeting 6:30 pm (Northside Cafeteria) Sat February 3, 2007 Whitney Young Invitational 3:00 pm (Oak Park River Forest High School) Benet, Julian, South Shore, Latin, Whitney Young, North Lawndale, Hyde Park. Tue February 13, 2007 Glenbrook North Tri-angular Meet (Highland Park, GBN, Northside) Tue February 20, 2007 New Trier Indoor Classic (Northside, Loyola, Lake View, New Trier) Sat February 24, 2007 Niles West Invitational 9:00 am Foreman, Maine West, Waukegan, Luther North, Northside, Niles West (Varsity/JV/Sophomore-Freshman) Tue March 6, 2007 Fenton Classic 4:30 pm Conant H.S., Fenton, Northside (Varsity/JV/Sophomore-Freshman) Fri March 9, 2007 University of Chicago Lab School 5:00 pm Henry Crown Stadium (200m Track) NSCD, Wheaton Academy, Westmont HS, Michelle Clark, Northside, U-High (Varsity Only) Sun March 11, 2007 CPS Varsity Indoor Championships 9:00 am Tue March 20, 2007 Ostberg Indoor Championships 4:30 pm (Sophomore-Freshman Only) Sat March 24, 2007 Kenwood Invitational 8:00 am (Varsity) Fri March 30, 2007 Lane Tech Relays 3:00 pm (Varsity) Sat March 31, 2007 Illinois Prep Top Times 10:00 am (Varsity Qualifiers) Sat April 7, 2007 Mather Invitational 9:00 am (Varsity Only) Tue April 10, 2007 Deerfield Invite 4:30 pm (Varsity/JV/Sophomore-Freshman) Glenbrook North, Deerfield Tue April 17, 2007 New Trier Outdoor Classic 4:30 pm (New Trier, Maine East, Northside) Fri April 20, 2007 Kenwood Sophomore-Freshman Classic 3:00 pm (Sophomore/Freshman Only) Sat April 21, 2007 Ed Key Classic 9:00 am (Varsity) Fri April 27, 2007 Spartan Relays (Varsity) 2:00 pm York, Glenbrook North, Deerfield, Glenbrook South, Highland Park, Maine South, Loyola, New Trier, Stevenson, Vernon Hills Sat April 28, 2007 Sophomore-Freshman CPS Qualifying Meet TBA (Hanson Stadium) Wed May 2, 2007 Varsity CPS Qualifying Meet TBA Fri May 4, 2007 Sophomore-Freshman City Championships TBA Sat May 5, 2007 Varsity City Championships TBA Fri May 18, 2007 IHSA Sectional Championships TBA Fri May 25, 2007 IHSA State Championships TBA -Eastern Illinois University Sat May 26, 2007 IHSA State Championships TBA -Eastern Illinois University Sat June 2, 2007 Track & Field Team Banquet TBA

On Tuesday, March 20, 2007, the Sophomore-Freshman Boys Track and Field Team traveled to Fenton High School in Bensenville, Illinois to compete against eight of the best Sophomore-Freshman Teams in Illinois. The meet featured Buffalo Grove High School, Niles North, Lake Park, West Chicago, Fenton High School, Northside College Prep, Brooks College Prep, and St.Joseph. The Meet was one of the best organized meets that the Mustangs attended during the 2007 Indoor season. The meet was named after two former Fenton athletes, who earned All-American honors during their collegiate careers. Jim Nichols (All-American in 800m run) and Emil Ostberg (All-American in the 200m Dash). To earn All-American honors, a collegiate athlete has to place in the Top 8 in the Country at the NCAA National Track and Field Championships. Fenton awarded Team Trophys to the Top 3 Teams, and Plaques for the Top 5 individual finishers and Top 4 Relays in every event. In the Shot Put, it was the best competition the state has seen this season. All sixteen throwers were outstanding, and it took something special to score and place in the top six in this meet. Freshman Alejandro Valdivieso threw a personal best 25'6. Captain Eric Nelson won his flight, and scored vital points for the Mustangs by placing 6th overall with a Personal Best throw of 36'9!! Nelson is now within 0'3 of the school record!! Lake Park's Dan Block broke the meet record, and stadium record, with an IHSA automatic state qualifying throw of 53'5.5. Block's throw went past the Shot Put area, and into the High Jump take-off area. It was by far the best Shot Put competition the Mustangs have been in this season. In the High Jump, there were several ties. The ties were broken by awarding the higher place to the athlete with the least number of total misses during the high jump competition. Northside Freshman Hunter Speese placed 7th out of sixteen jumpers, with a jump of 5'0. Sophomore Wemi Jemine earned a plaque by placing 4th overall with a jump of 5'6. Niles North Randell Smith placed second with a jump of 6'0. Buffalo Grove's Matt Newman won it with a jump of 6'0. In the Pole Vault, after only one day of practice, Northside Sophomore Simon Vecchioni made history by becoming the first Northside Athlete to compete in Pole Vault in a meet. Vecchioni came close to clearing 6'6 on his first attempt, but came down on the cross bar as he was clearing it. It was an outstanding first meet pole vaulting for Simon Vecchioni. Vecchioni learned steps, had solid pole vault plants, and was able to release the bar with ease. Vecchioni will resume pole vault practice on Thursday night, and will set the school record in his next meet. In the Long Jump, Sophomore Martin Melto scored for the Mustangs by placing 6th overall with a personal best jump of 17'5.75. Melto improved by 0'6.75! Sophomore Wemi Jemine jumped an outanding 14'11.25. In the Triple Jump, Freshman Jiasong Yang jumped a personal best 34'7.5. Yang's performance is even more impressive considering he raced the two mile prior to jumping, and still improved his PR 5'8.5 after racing the two mile!! Sophomore Albert Lin secured vital points for the Mustangs by placing fourth overall with a personal best jump of 37'3.5! Lin was awarded a plaque for placing fourth in the meet. In the 4x800m Relay, the Mustangs placed 5th a year ago, with Brandon Cooper (2:27), Santino Merino (2:40), Simon Vecchioni (2:40), and Eric Ullrich (2:40) earning a plaque. In 2007, the Mustangs were seeded fourth. However, Sophomore Brian Chhun, who ran a 2:33 800m split at the UC Lab School Invite was unable to make the meet. Who would be able to replace Chhun's speed in the relay? The Mustangs hopes of a top four finish in the Relay looked bleak. As the bus pulled into Fenton High School, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon announced Freshman Nickolas Ruff would replace Chhun in the 4x800m Relay. Freshman Nickolas Ruff showed great determination and came through big for the Mustangs. The Mustangs upset Niles North to finish second overall with a total time of 9:42. On the first leg of the 4x800m relay, Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran an outstanding time of 2:22, which was 18 seconds faster than a year ago. Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka ran an outstanding time of 2:23 on the second leg of the 4x800m Relay, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Nickolas Ruff. Ruff ran a personal best time of 2:33, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda. Pineda passed Niles North on the anchor leg of the 4x800m relay with a personal best 2:24 800m split, to secure a second place overall for the Mustangs, with an outstanding total time of 9:42. Simon Vecchioni, Jonathan Kittaka, Nickolas Ruff, and Cuitlahuac Pineda were awarded the Second place plaque in the 4x800m Relay after the meet. In the 4x135 Yards Relay, Martin Melto, Sam Olver, Nebiu Tadele, and Peter Wilk, combined for an outstanding time of 76.2 to place seventh overall. In the 3200m run, Freshman Jaisong Yang ran a personal best time of 11:47 to place seventh overall. Freshman Cooper Eben ran an outstanding time of 12:37. In the 50 Yard High Hurdles, Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a personal best time of 8.90. Sophomore Albert Lin ran a time of 8.95. In the 50 Yard Dash, Sophomore Wemi Jemine ran an outstanding time of 6.20. Freshman Hunter Speese ran a time of 6.31. In the 800m run, Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran an outstanding time of 2:24. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon tied his personal best with an outstanding time of 2:32. In the 4x270 yards relay, Sophomore Martin Melto ran an outstanding time of 36.35 on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Shaheed Ghogha. Ghogha ran a 270 yards split of 36.98. Sophomore Albert Lin ran an outstanding split of 36.56 on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Neal Capapas. Freshman Neal Capapas anchored the relay to fifth overall with a split of 37.36, and a total time of 2:27.25. In the 400m run, Freshman Hunter Speese ran a time of 65.06. Freshman Peter Wilk ran a time of 66.95. In the 50 Yard Intermediate Hurdles, Albert Lin ran an outstanding time of 8.47. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a personal best time of 8.63. In the Mile run, Lake Park's Craig Watson won it with a personal best time of 4:57. Buffalo Grove's Mike Galla placed second with a 4:58. Lake Park's Steve Krauss placed third with a 4:59. Northside Sophomore Jonathan Kittaka ran a personal best 5:04 (2:28 / 2:36) to place fourth overall. Freshman Cuitlahuac Pineda ran a personal best time of 5:24 (2:39 / 2:45). Jonathan Kittaka was awarded a plaque for placing fourth overall. In the Emil Ostberg 200m run, Sophomore Wemi Jemine (27.6), and Freshman Hunter Speese (27.7) placed 5th and 6th respectively. Jemine was awarded a plaque for placing fifth overall. In the 4x405 Yards Relay, Sophomore Simon Vecchioni ran an outstanding time of 55.55 on the first leg of the relay and made a nice exchange to Andrew Czyszczon. Freshman Andrew Czyszczon ran a 59.73 split on the second leg of the relay. Freshman Neal Capapas ran a 60.97 split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Peter Wilk. Freshman Peter Wilk anchored the Mustangs to fifth overall with an outstanding 62.29 split, for a total time of 3:58.54. (Coming soon: Sophomore/Freshman Point Totals)

On Friday, March 23, 2007, the night before the first Outdoor Track & Field Meet of the season, there will be a Team Pasta Party for all members of the Northside College Prep Track & Field Team from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, at Park Place Towers, 655 W. Irving Park Road, 2nd Floor (Movie Theatre/Banquet Room). The Pasta Party will be prepared by famous Chicago Chef Frankie Janisch of "The Spot". The menu will include: Cheesey Garlic bread with a Tuscan sauce, Home Sweet Home Salad (House greens with a hand blended poppy-seed dressing), Phinner's Basil Chicken Pasta (Sauteed Chicken breast, garlic, basil, white wine, cream, and plum tomatoes), Pesto Pasta (Basil, garlic, olive oil, pecan nuts, & cheese), and Eggplant Parmesian (Thinly sliced eggplant, fried and hand rolled w/goat cheese, topped with home made Tuscan sauce, then baked) for our vegeterian teammates. The team will also watch the Movie, "Invincible", starring Mark Wahlberg, the true story of Vince Papale, a former collegiate decathlete, and unemployed teacher, who tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles, despite no collegiate football experience, and makes the TEAM against all odds through pure determination and guts.

Thanks to the efforts of Whitney Young Head Girls Track & Field Coach Bob Geiger, Pole Vault has returned to the CPS Outdoor City Championships for the first time since 1982. The addition of Pole Vault will help enable CPS schools to score up to 18 additional points in IHSA Sectional and State meets. On Wednesday, March 14, 2007, and Thursday, March 15, 2007, Northside Athletes Vinh Nguyen, Natalie Hanigan, Simon Vecchioni, and Bessie Nolan, traveled with Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon to Whitney Young High School to train from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm with gifted Whitney Young Pole Vault Coach Bob Geiger and his outstanding athletes. Although the Mustangs have only had a couple of days of training, they have been impressive, and Northside Sophomore Simon Vecchioni will be the first athlete in the history of Northside College Prep to vault in a meet, on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at the Ostberg Sophomore-Freshman Championships at Fenton High School. Vecchioni will also be competing in the 4x800m Relay, 800m run, and 4x405 yards Relay.

For the first time in Northside College Prep history, Nine Northside Athletes will compete in the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic in Bloomington, Illinois on Saturday, March 31, 2007, at the Illinois Wesleyan University Shirk Center. The Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Clasic features the best athletes in the State in every event and is viewed as the "Indoor State Championship". Sophomore Maria Torres jumped the automatic qualifying standard (34'4) for the Illinois Indoor Prep Top Times Indoor Classic in the Triple Jump on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at the CPS Varsity Indoor Meet, at the University of Chicago. Maria Torres is currently ranked as one of the Top 14 athletes in the State. The Mustangs have also been invited in the Men and Women Distance Medley Relay. The Distance Medley Relay consists of 1200m run, 400m run, 800m run, and a Mile. Sophomore Ani Zotti, Senior Julie Bujnowski, Sophomore Anna Parks, and Junior Rachel Kittaka will compete for Northside Women in the Distance Medley Relay. Senior Patrick O'Connor, Senior Geoff Edwards, Senior John Holler, and Junior Preston Buehrer will compete for the Northside Men in the Distance Medley Relay. The above nine athletes will leave for Bloomington, Illinois on Friday, March 30, 2007, and will be staying at the Country Inn, which is five minutes from the Stadium, and is complete with an Indoor Pool and Spa. The athletes will be staying in suites, which include king size beds, microwave, refrigerator, and a separate living room.