CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Friday, March 27, 2009, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, Assistant Coaches Jose Nebrida, Kate Cook, Adrian Hunter, Kwaku Attoh, Team Trainer Ryan Whitt, Parent Chaperone Philip Nelson, and Northside Athletes Charlie Mesimore, Wesley Laytham, Eric Nelson, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Steven Burke, Simon Vecchioni, Adaora Achufusi, Bessie Nolan, and Anna Parks traveled to Bloomington, Illinois for the Indoor State Championships (Illinois Prep Top Times).

The Mustangs stayed at Holiday Inn Suites. The hotel was complete with a refrigerator and microwave in every suite, fitness center, Ninetendo, Internet, first run movies, and the NCAA basketball tournament was featured on every television. A special thanks to Northside Principal Barry Rodgers and Northside Athletic Director Andrew Mayer for the wonderful accomadations. 

The Team dined at Olive Garden the night before Illinois Prep Top Times. The Bloomington Olive Garden was the most popular place in town, and the University of Wisconsin Womens Softball Team, and the Distance Medley Relay Teams of Highland Park, and several other schools filled the restaurent to capacity. After an extensive wait for a table, the Mustangs had gourmet meal courtesy of the Northside coaching staff, and returned to Holiday Inn Suites for the evening.

 On Saturday, March 28, 2009, the Mustangs had breakfast at Holidays Inn Suites before departing to the Shirk Center. The $15 million stadium was filled to capacity upon arrival, with every seat in the upper deck of the stadium filled. The Mustangs received their race numbers upon checking-in, and were placed in a large turf room adjacent to the stadium to put their belongings in, and set up a Team Camp. Right next to the turf room, a special gymnasium was used for event check-in, and to run warm-ups. The athletes had access to stands on the main floor, that were roped off from the Track, and were able to witness amazing races, including State Cross Country Champion Jeff Thode in the Mile, Lane Tech's Chris Kyles in the 55m Dash, Whitney Young's Raena Rhone in the 400m run, and great field event feats throughout the day, including Lake Park's Dan Block in the Shot Put, Rollowing Meadows Mick Viken in the Pole Vault, and Northside's Eric Nelson in the High Jump. 

 The Northside athletes witnessed an incredible Track meet throughout the day, as they waited for the showcase event, the Distance Medley Relay. Prior to Saturday, Northside had never brought home a medal from the Indoor State Championships in the Distance Medley Relay, and had a school record of 11:25.65.

 The Distance Medley Relay featured 20 Teams, and to reach the Medal stand (Top 8 Teams) the Mustangs would have to get past among others, Hoffman Estates, Geneva, Lake Zurich, and a Mather Distance Medley Relay that featured Ivan Cornell as anchor, and a Conant Distance Medley Relay that featured State Champ Jeff Thode, and quarter-mile / pole vault star Kyle Reid. The Mustangs rose up to the challenge and SMASHED THE SCHOOL RECORD BY 21.66 SECONDS with an official time of 11:03.99, for a new school record to place 8th overall to reach the Medal stand for the first time in Northside history with upset victories over Lake Zurich (11:04.88), Conant (11:08.57), Geneva (11:18.04), Hoffman Estates (11:19.27), Plainfield South (11:19.61), Downers Grove South (11:21.13), Mather (11:22.12), Aurora Central Catholic (11:32.31), St.Patrick (11:50.98), Marian Catholic (11:57.51), and others.

 Northside Sophomore Charlie Mesimore lead off for the Mustangs in the 1200m leg of the Distance Medley Relay. Mesimore put the Mustangs in great position, by taking the lead early, and keeping the Mustangs in the top 3 in their heat, on the 1200m leg of Distance Medley Relay with a personal best time of 3:23.44. Charlie Mesimore ran 200m splits of 32, 34 (66 400m), 34, 35 (2:15 800m), 35, and 33 seconds on the final 200m for a personal best time of 3:23.44. Charlie Mesimore ran one of his best races of the season, and put the Mustangs in third place on the first exchange. Charlie Mesimore also made a perfect hand-off to Sophomore Wesley Laytham.  

 Northside Sophomore Wesley Laytham ran the 800m leg of the Distance Medley Relay for the Mustangs. Wesley Laytham is used to being the anchor on Northside relays, and he showed the mental toughness of an anchor on the second leg of the relay, by picking up ground, and holding off challenges from several teams to keep the Mustangs in third, by running 200m splits of 29, 34 (63 400m), 34, and 32 seconds on the final 200m for a personal best time of 2:09.12. Wesley Laytham ran his best race of the season, and made a nice exchange to Senior Eric Nelson.

 Northside Senior Eric Nelson ran the 400m leg of the Distance Medley Relay for the Mustangs.  Eric Nelson hurt his hamstring on the first turn, but his awesome competiveness kept him running, and he ran the first 200m in 27 seconds, and the final 200m 29.87 for an outstanding 400m split of 56.87. Eric Nelson ran outstanding despite the injury, and made a perfect hand-off to Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss.

 Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran the Mile leg of the Distance Medley Relay for the Mustangs. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss quickly put the Mustangs into third place in their heat, with a 30 seconds split on his first 200m!, and then ran 200m splits of 34 (64 400m), 34, 36 (2:14 800m), 36, 35 (3:25 1200m), 36, and the final 200m in 33 seconds for a personal best time of 4:34.49. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD in the Mile! The Mustangs school record in the Mile was previously held by Joseph Terdik (4:37.20, 2006 IHSA Sectional Championships). Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss anchored the Mustangs to third place in their heat, and 8th overall to reach the Medal stand for the first time in Northside history, with a new SCHOOL RECORD in the Distance Medley Relay of 11:03.99!! The Mustangs smahed the previous school record by 21.66 seconds!! It was the largest margin that a Northside school record had ever been broken.

  Charlie Mesimore, Wesley Laytham, Eric Nelson, and Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss will be honored at practice on Monday, and will receive Watermelons for breaking the school record, and will also receive a plaque at the June Track & Field banquet.

  A special thanks to Northside Junior Steven Burke, and Northside Senior Simon Vecchioni for serving as alternates for the Distance Medley Relay, and having a positive impact on their teammates.

   The Northside Track & Field Team will be having a Team / Parents Pasta Party at 6:00 pm on Friday, April 3, 2009 in the Northside Cafeteria, the night before, the first home meet in the history of Northside College Prep. We need as many parent volunteers as possible to help out with our first home meet to make it a success.

   The Mustang Classic will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at River Park (Argyle and Francisco) and will feature Urban Prep, Taft, Steinmetz, Mather, and host Northside College Prep. Over $1,500.00 in Trophies and engraved Medals will be awarded at the inaugural Mustang Classic. IHSA #1 ranked Official Harry Kannry will serve as the starter, and is traveling all the way from Western Springs, Illinois for the event. National High School Track & Field association members Patty Amedio and Yolando Vicens will serve as score keepers, along with 16-20 Northside parent volunteers as additional score keepers (Three divisions, co-ed, Varsity, Junior Varsity, Sophomore-Freshman), Timers, and as part of the hurdle crew. The Meet will start with a Coaches meeting at approximately 8:30 am on Saturday, April 4, 2009.