CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

On Saturday, the Northside Varsity Men traveled to River Forest, Illinois for the 2009 IHSA Sectional Championships at Concordia University.

The IHSA Sectional Championship featured Curie, De La Salle, Dunbar, Kelly, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, Prosser, Schurz, Northside College Prep, St. Ignatius, St. Patrick, Steinmetz, Von Steuben, Whitney Young, Oak Park River Forest, and host Fenwick. IHSA Medals were awarded to the top 6 athletes or relays in each event. The meet was scored on the following point scale: 10-8-6-4-2-1.

Several Northside Alumni came to the meet, including Northside legend Danny Kittaka.

Every athlete entered in the meet, including relay alternates were in attendance, and the dedication of the Mustangs put the TEAM over the top.  

The Northside Mustangs had the greatest IHSA Sectional Team performance in the history of Northside College Prep.  

In the Long Jump, Northside Freshman Josh Williams jumped a personal best 16'6.50! Josh Williams improved by 0'9.5! Northside Senior Martin Melto jumped an outstanding 17'6.

In the High Jump, Northside Senior Eric Nelson jumped an outstanding 6'4 to WIN his second consecutive IHSA Sectional Title and qualify for the State Championships!!! Eric Nelson was awarded a Medal for placing first overall. Oak Park River Forest's Carl Heinz finished in second place with a jump of 6'2. Whitney Young's Cameron Allen jumped an outstanding 6'0 to finish in third place. Prosser's Evan Brown jumped an outstanding 6'0 to finish in fourth place. Diatre Brown and Anthony Brown completed the scoring by tieing for fifth place with an outstanding jump of 5'10. Northside Senior Wemi Jemine jumped 5'6 to place ninth overall.

In the Discus, Northside Senior John Ko threw a personal best 102'01. Northside Senior Eric Nelson was unable to throw the Discus at the IHSA Sectional Championships because he was still jumping in the High Jump competition during the Discus, and will throw at the Northside Throwers' Summit on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. A special thanks to Northside Thrower's Coach Kate Cook for her outstanding work with the Northside throwers this season. 

In the Shot Put, Northside Captain Eric Nelson threw an outstanding 40'06. Northside Senior John Ko threw an outstanding 33'09.

In the Triple Jump, Northside Senior Eric Nelson BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a jump of 42'03.00 to place fifth overall. Eric Nelson was awarded a Medal for placing fifth overall. Northside Freshman Josh Williams jumped an outstanding 34'05.00!!!.

In the 4x800m Relay, Oak Park River Forest won it with an outstanding time of 8:01.77. St. Ignatius finished in second place with an outstanding time of 8:13.89. Fenwick finished in third place with a time of 8:17.02. Chicago St. Patrick finished in fourth palce with a time of 8:47.82. Chicago Northside finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 8:51.17. Northside Senior Jon Kittaka was feeling ill before the meet, but decided to race for his teammates, and ran an outstanding 800m split of 2:13 on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Pat Duffy. Pat Duffy ran an outstanding 800m split of 2:12 on the second leg of the relay, and made a perfect exchange to Freshman Jusuf Skelic. Justic Skelic ran a personal best time of 2:10 on the third leg of the relay and made a nice exchange to Senior Simon Vecchioni. Captain Simon Vecchioni anchored the Mustangs to fifth place overall with an outstanding 800m split of 2:15 for a total time of 8:51.17. Jon Kittaka, Pat Duffy, Jusuf Skelic, and Simon Vecchioni were awarded Medals for placing fifth overall. It was the highest finish in the 4x800m Relay of any CPS Class AAA Team in the IHSA Sectional Championships this year. A special thanks to Northside Sophomore Erik Zuehlke, Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, and Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss for serving as alternates for the 4x800m Relay. Whitney Young finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 9:12.11.

In the 4x100m Relay, Northside Senior Martin Melto, Senior Albert Lin, Senior Wemi Jemine, and Junior Hunter Speese combined for a 47.75 to finish in 11th place. A speicals thanks to Northside Junior Neal Capapas, Senior Brian Chhun, Freshman Derek Lin, and Senior Simon Vecchioni for servering as alternates for the 4x100m Relay.

In the 3200m Run, Oak Park River Forest Malechy Schrobilgem (9:31.14), Oak Park River Forest Jack Stapleton (9:31.47), and Fenwick's Martin Grady (9:31.66) came across the finish line respetively 1, 2, and 3 in a photo finish. Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran the first mile in 4:54 and the final mile in 5:13 for an outstanding time of 10:07.90 to place fourth overall. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was awarded a Medal for placing 4th overall. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss had a GREAT season, and is currently ranked #2 on the Northside All Time list in the 3200m run. In 2009, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss won the Deerfield Classic (9:47), Lake Forest Academy Classic, finished second in the CPS Conference in the 3200m, and also broke the school record in the 800m, 4x800m Relay, Distance Medley Relay, and 4x1 Mile Relay. St. Ignatius's Jimmy Connelly finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 10:13.00. Fenwick's Jack Boyle finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 10:14.46. Lincoln Park's Jacob Cetera finished in seventh place with a personal best time of 10:15.73. Northside Junior Cooper Eben finished in eighth place with a personal best time of 10:17.16. Cooper Eben passed Northside legend Anderson Adams on the All Time list in the 3200m run, and is currently ranked #4. Cooper Eben had a GREAT season, including earning All City Honors in the 3200m run, and breaking the school record in the 4x800m Relay, and the 4x1 Mile Relay. Patrick Santino finished in ninth place with a time of 10:20.42. Charlie Labuz finished in tenth place with a time of 10:50.09. Lane Tech's Jimmy Orellana finished in eleventh place with a personal best time of 10:58.34. Ryan Flood finished in 12th place with a time of 10:59.92. Lane Tech's Nathan Wade-Scott finished in 13th place with an outstanding time of 11:02.83. Joe Platt finished in 14th place with a time of 11:05.98.

In the 110m High Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Hersh Perlmutter BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a personal best time of 16.36 in the prelims. Northside Junior Andrew Czyszczon ran an outstanding time of 21.83 in the prelims. In the finals, Hersh Perlmutter placed 7th overall with an outstanding time of 17.45. A special thanks to Northside Hurdles Coach Adrian Hunter for an outstanding season. In 2009, the Northside hurdlers broke multiple school records in the 110m and 300m Hurdles. 

In the 100m Dash, Northside Junior Hunter Speese ran a time of 12.35 in the 100m Dash prelims. Northside Senior Wemi Jemine ran a personal best time of 11.64 in the prelims to qualify for the 100m finals. Wemi Jemine is the first Northside sprinter to ever qualify for an IHSA Sectional finals in the 100m dash. In the finals, Wemi Jemine placed SIXTH OVERALL to earn a Medal in the IHSA Sectional Championships with an outstanding time of 11.66. Wemi Jemine came within 0.92 of a second from qualifying for the State Championships in the 100m Dash. A special thanks to Northside sprints coach Kwaku Attoh for an outstanding season. In 2009, the Northside sprinters broke the school record in the 100m, 4x100m, 4x200m, and 400m Dash.

In the 800m run, Fenwick's Steve Blazer won it with a time of 1:59.12. Fenwick's Mike Yerkes finished in second place with a time of 1:59.24. Oak Park River Forest's Kevin Binns finished in third place with a time of 2:00.20. Whitney Young Sophomore Julian Deville finished in fourth place with an outstanding time of 2:00.37. Lane Tech's Victor Terrazas finished in fifth place with a personal best time of 2:03.84. Jerry Medina completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with a time of 2:06.44. Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was scratched from the 800m run. Whitney Young's Sam Redmond ran a time of 2:15.75. Lincoln Park's Brandon Schnake ran a time of 2:18.24. Lane Tech's Dylan Allingham ran a time of 2:20.58. Northside Senior Jon Kittaka ran a time of 2:23.90, and was not even expected to run in the 800m run due to illness. Jon Kittaka had an outstanding career at Northside, and is on the Northside All Time list in the 3200m run, Mile, and 800m run! Jon Kittaka will be competing in college in Cross Country and Track for Carleton College. Northside looks forward to hearing about his first 8K PR in the fall.  

In the 4x200m Relay, Northside Senior Martin Melto, Senior Albert Lin, Senior Brian Chhun, and Junior Neal Capapas combined for an oustanding time of 1:39.32 to WIN their heat, and finish in eighth place overall. A speicals thanks to Northside Senior Simon Vecchioni, Junior Sam Olver, Freshman Josh Williams, and Freshman Derek Lin for servering as alternates for the 4x200m Relay.

In the 400m Dash, Northside Freshman Mac Melto was ordered by doctors not to race after recently recovering from a fever. Although he was told by the coaching staff that he should stay home, Mac Melto still came to the meet to support his teammates, and help in anyway he could, including offering to hold blocks for his teammates. A trip to the State Championships will definitely be in Mac Melto's future next year, and he will be a major addition to the Northside Cross Country Team.  Northside Senior Simon Vecchioni ran a time of 60.15 in his final race of his high school career, which was equal to his first 400m split in the 4x800m relay. Earlier in the day, Northside Captain Simon Vecchioni anchored the Mustangs to their first IHSA Sectional medal in the 4x800m Relay. Simon Vecchioni has been one of the cornerstones of the Northside Track Team, and was one of the best Team Captains in Northside history.

In the 300m Low Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Hersh Perlmutter ran an outstanding time of 46.33. Northside Junior Andrew Czyszczon ran an outstanding time of 49.49.

In the Mile, Lane Tech Junior Kulayifi Haji ran a personal best time of 4:24.30 to win it. Haji dropped 4 seconds off his PR. Fenwick's Tom Laser ran a personal best time of 4:27.44 to finish in second place. Oak Park River Forest's Peter Hogenson finished in third place with an outstanding time of 4:30.50. Oak Park River Forest's Eunhwan Yoo finished in fourth place with an outstanding time of 4:33.65. Northside Sophomore Charlie Mesimore BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD in the Mile with a personal best time of 4:35.05. Charlie Mesimore ran the first 400m in 65 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 70 seconds (2:15 800m split), and then ran the next 400m in an even split of 70 seconds (3:25 1200m split), and then ran the final 400m in another even split of 70 seconds for a personal best time of 4:35.05. The School record of 4:37 was previously held by Joseph Terdik, and was set at the 2006 IHSA Sectionals. It was also the SECOND fastest Mile time run by an athlete in the CPS this year. Charlie Mesimore was awarded an IHSA Sectional Medal for placing fifth overall. Northside Sophomore Wesley Laytham ran a personal best time of 4:39.30. Wesley Laytham was awarded an IHSA Sectional Medal for placing sixth overall. Wesley Laytham ran the first 400m in 66 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 70 seconds (2:16 800m split), and then ran the next 400m in 71 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 72 seconds for a personal best time of 4:39.30!!! St. Ignatius Jack Cross finished in seventh place with a time of 4:45.46. Kamal Khan finished in eighth place with a time of 4:48.42. Lane Tech's Chris Tidd finished in ninth place with a time of 4:50.97. Lincoln Park's Jacob Cetera finished in tenth place with an outstanding time of 4:58.52.

In the 200m Dash, Northside Senior Wemi Jemine ran the fastest 200m time of the season and came very close to breaking the school record (Santino Merino, 23.60, 2008) with a 23.64 in the prelims to qualify for the finals. Wemi Jemine is the first Northside sprinter to ever qualify for the finals at an IHSA Sectional. In the finals, Wemi Jemine earned a Medal by placing fifth overall. It was Wemi Jemine's second Medal (100m, 200m) of the day.

In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Senior Brian Chhun ran a 55.05 seconds 400m split on the first leg of the Relay. Northside Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran a 55.97 seconds 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Freshman Pat Duffy ran a 57 seconds 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Sophomore Wesley Laytham anchored the Mustangs past Lincoln Park in the final 100m with a 53 seconds 400m split, for a total time of 3:42!!!

The Northside Mens and Womens Cross Country Team will have a mandatory TEAM meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at 3:39 pm in the Northside Cafeteria to distribute summer training logs, talk about exciting plans for the 2009 season, off-season training, and Northside's FREE running camp (starting June 15, 2009). Incoming Freshman have also been invited to the Team meeting.

Northside Senior Eric Nelson will leave for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships on Thursday, May 28, 2009. 

In 2009, the Northside Varsity Men and Women had their best season in the history of the program, and broke over 19 school records, and the TEAM will be honored at the largest banquet in the history of Northside College Prep on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Hackney's in Glenview, Illinois.