CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Friday, May 16, 2008, the Northside College Prep Varsity Track & Field Team was scheduled to travel to Deerfield, Illinois for the IHSA Sectional Championships at Deerfield High School at 2:45 pm. However, the bus was nowhere in sight, and calls to the Chicago Transit Bus Company confirmed that the bus was going to be 30 minutes late, and the IHSA Sectional Head Coaches meeting was scheduled for 4:00 pm, with Field Events starting at 4:30 pm. A late arrival would not hurt the Track events, because they didn't start until 5:30 pm, but it would definitely hurt the Field Events. As a result, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon took the Northside Field event athletes immediately to Deerfield in his car, so they would have adequate time to prepare for their events, and not be scratched from the meet. Northside Associate Assistant Coach Chad Ware was already in Deerfield, getting the Mustangs Shot Put and Discus equipment weighed and certifed for competition. Northside Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida traveled with the Northside Track Event athletes to Deerfield as soon as the bus arrived, along with a large Team Tent for the IHSA Sectional Championships. The Mustangs were greeted by Northside Alumni Patrick O'Connor and Daniel Kittaka.

  After a coaches meeting, the High Jump, Shot Put, Discus, and Long Jump all started at 4:30 pm as scheduled. As the athletes went through their warm-ups, the stadium announcer read the names of all the athletes in the Field Events, and their season best marks, and then the competition commenced.  

   In the High Jump, the opening height was set at 5'8. New Trier Senior Jan Bak, Maine South Junior Zach Glasebrook, Notre Dame Sophomore Sean Morrissey, and Deerfield Junior Robert Bors were eliminated from the competition after three outstanding attempts at 5'8.

   Loyola Academy Senior Darrius Crawford, Evanston Freshman Alex Kombwa, Highland Park Senior Adam Pines, Glenbrook North Junior Kosmo Kwiatkowski, and Loyola Academy Sophomore Michael Wright all cleared 5'8, but were eliminted from the competition after three outstanding attempts at 5'10.  

   On his third attempt, Northside Junior Wemi Jemine jumped a PERSONAL BEST 5'10! Northside Junior Wemi Jemine, Deerfield Senior Brian Miller, Niles North Junior Jamar Francis, Glenbrook South Freshman Eric Mrugala, Niles North Sophomore Will Kennedy, Highland Park Freshman Cole Stern, and Notre Dame Senior Rick Szukala all cleared 5'10, but were elimited from the competition after three outstanding attempts at 6'0.

  Northside Junior Eric Nelson missed on his first attempt at 6'0, and then cleared it on his second attempt. New Trier Senior Jeremy Wynn, Maine South Senior Sean Byrne, Niles West Junior Brent Carducii, Evanston Sophomore Josh Perryman, Niles West Sophomore Dan Lohan, and Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes all cleared 6'0.

  The cross bar was then raised to 6'2. Northside Junior Eric Nelson cleared it on his first attempt. Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes missed it on his first attempt, and then cleared it on his second attempt. Niles West Sophomore Dan Lohan missed is on his first and second attempt, and then cleared it on his third attempt. 

  New Trier Senior Jeremy Wynn made three outstanding attempts at 6'2, and was eliminated from the competition. However, Jeremy Wynn would later qualify for State in the 400m Run. Maine South Senior Sean Byrne, Niles West Junior Brent Carducci, and Evanston Sophomore Josh Perryman also made three outstanding attempts at 6'2, and were eliminated from the competition.

  The cross bar was then raised to 6'4, the automatic qualifying height for the State Championships, with Niles West Sophomore Dan Lohan, Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes, and Northside Junior Eric Nelson as the only remaining athletes in the competition.

  Northside Junior Eric Nelson cleared 6'4 on his first attempt to automatically qualify for the State Championships!!! The only question that remained was whether Eric Nelson could become the first Northside male athlete in any sport to ever win an IHSA Sectional Title.  

  Niles West Sophomore Dan Lohan and Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes both missed on their first attempt at 6'4.

  Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes cleared 6'4 on his second attempt to automatically qualify for the State Championships. Niles West Sophomore Dan Lohan was eliminated from the competition after an outstanding second and third attempt at clearing 6'4.

  As the cross bar was raised to 6'6, Hindes had two total misses during the competition, while Nelson had only one miss during the competition. If it ended it a tie, the total misses would determine the winner.

  On Eric Nelson first two attempts at 6'6, it appeared momentarily that he was completely over, and then hit the bar on their way down. Eric Nelson made another outstanding final attempt at 6'6, but did not clear it. Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes also made three outstanding attempts at 6'6, and was unable to clear it. The tie was broken by adding up the total misses of each athlete during the competition. Northside Junior Eric Nelson won the tie-breaker, and the IHSA Sectional High Jump Title!!!

   In the Shot Put, Northside Junior John Ko threw 33'11.25. Eric Nelson had to be scratched due to the length of the High Jump Competition, and will get the opportunity to throw on Monday at the Northside Shot Put Summit.

   In the Discus, Northside Junior John Ko threw 92'6. Eric Nelson had to be scratched due to the length of the High Jump Competition, and will get the opportunity to throw on Monday at the Northside Discus Summit.    

   Northside Junior Eric Nelson will travel to Charleston, Illinois Thursday afternoon for the IHSA State Championships. The pre-lims will take place on Friday morning, and the Finals will take place on Saturday.