CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Friday, May 1, 2009, Northside College Prep Varsity Men traveled to Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois for the 47th Annual Spartan Relays. The meet featured Deerfield High School, Maine South, New Trier, Glenbrook South, Highland Park, Northside College Prep, Stevenson, Lake Zurich, Venon Hills, Loyola Academy, York, and host Glenbrook North.

 Glenbrook North went to great lengths to make the meet perfect for all of the competing teams in the 47th Annual Spartan Relays. Glenbrook North Head Coach Rob Berg, Throws Coach Matt Purdy, Jumps Coach Steve Gross, and Distance Coach Bob LeBlanc pumped water out of the Field Event areas for three hours prior to the start of the meet. Former Glenbrook North Sprints coaching legend Bill Keane also voluntered his time to serve as Clerk of the course. A special thanks to all the members of the Glenbrook North coaching staff for being excellent hosts.   

  In the High Jump, each school was given four entries, for a total of 48 entries in the competition. The opening height was 4'8. Northside Junior Andrew Czyszczon was an emergency replacement for Northside Senior Wemi Jemine. Andrew Czyszczon had the height on his very first attempt at 4'8, but hit the bar on his way down. On his second attempt, he sliped on his approach, but did not break plane of the mat or touch the mat. The official initially ruled it would not count as an attempt. Andrew Czyszczon then made another attempt, and was unable to clear it. When Andrew Czyszczon approached the pit for his final attempt, a spectator from Deerfield interfered with the competition and argued that when Czyszczon slipped before reaching the pit, it should have been counted as his second and third attempt. The official then changed his original ruling. Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon appealed to the games comittee, and Deerfield Head Coach Jeremy Kaufmann showed good sportsmanship, by telling the games comittee that the Mustangs were correct, and that Czyszczon should be given his third attempt.. Andrew Czyszczon was given a third attempt, but was unable to clear 4'8. Northside Junior Hunter Speese cleared 5'0, and made three outstanding attempts at 5'2. Northside Senior John Byrne cleared a personal best 5'4, and made three outstanding attempts at 5'6. The bar was then raised to 5'8. Northside Senior Eric Nelson entered the competition and cleared 5'8. Eric Nelson then cleared 5'10. Northside Senior Eric Nelson then cleared 6'0 to WIN the competition, and then had the bar raised to 6'4. On his very first attempt, Eric Nelson cleared 6'4!!! Eric Nelson then had the bar raised to 6'6. Eric Nelson made three outstanding attempts at 6'6, and came very close on all three attempts at clearing 6'6.

 In the 4x800m Relay, Northside Senior Brian Chhun ran a personal best 2:13.18 800m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Senior Simon Vecchioni ran a 2:20.12 800m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Sophomore Luis Gaytan ran a 2:32.29 800m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Junior Andrew Czyszczon anchored the Mustangs to 12th place with a 2:27.59 800m, for a total time of 9:33.90.

 In the 4x100m Relay, Northside Senior Martin Melto, Junior Hunter Speese, Senior Brian Chhun, and Senior Wemi Jemine combined for a time fo 48.30 to place 11th overall.

 In the 4xMile Relay, Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Junior Cooper Eben, Senior Jon Kittaka, and Sophomore Wesley Laytham BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD by over a MINUTE AND 21 SECONDS!!! for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 18:55.40. The Mustangs also came within 18 seconds of upseting York High School! The previous record of 20:16.30 stood since 2007, and was smashed by over a minute and 21 seconds! Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran the first 400m in 68 seconds, and then the next 400m in 68 seconds (2:16 800m), and then ran the next 400m in 71 seconds (3:27 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in 71 seconds for an outstanding time of 4:38.12, and made a nice exchange to Junior Cooper Eben. Cooper Eben ran the first 400m in 67 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 75 seconds (2:22 800m), and then ran the next 400m in 74 seconds (3:36 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in 74 seconds for an outstanding time of 4:50.38, and made a nice exchange to Senior Jon Kittaka. Jon Kittaka ran the first 400m in 68 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 72 seconds (2:20 800m), and then ran the next 400m in 74 seconds (3:34 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in 70 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST time of 4:44.38, and made a perfect exchange to Sophomore Wesley Laytham. Wesley Laytham ran the first 400m in 67 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 73 seconds (2:20 800m), and then ran the next 400m in a negative split of 72 seconds (3:32 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in a negative split of 70 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST time of 4:42.38, to anchor the Mustangs to a NEW SCHOOL RECORD OF 18:55.40!!