CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Thursday, May 20, 2010, the Northside Varsity Men traveled to Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois for the 2010 IHSA Sectional Championships.

 The Northside Varsity Men were greeted at Loyola by Northside Alumni Eric Nelson, Martin Melto, Simon Vecchioni, Adaora Achufusi, Ani Zotti and Anna Parks. A special thanks to the Northside Alumni for their tremendous support.   

 The IHSA Sectional Championships featured Niles West, Evanston, New Trier, Maine East, Mather, Northside College Prep, Glenbrook South, Glenbrook North, Hersey, Taft, Von Steuben, Propsect, Notre Dame, Maine South, Niles North, and host Loyola Academy.

 Northside posted victories over Maine East, Notre Dame, Glenbrook North, Von Steuben, and Taft.

 In the Shot Put, Northside Senior Andrew Czyszczon threw an outstanding 35'10.50. Northside Freshman Kapil Garg threw 25'10.50.

 In the Discus, Northside Junior Ottmar Flores threw an outstanding 79'10. Northside Senior Andrew Czyszczon threw 78'04.

 In the Long Jump, Northside Sophomore Josh Williams jumped an outstanding 18'03.25.

 In the Triple Jump, Northside Sophomore Josh Williams jumped an outstanding 36'08.50.

 In the High Jump, Niles West Senior Danny Lohan won it with a jump of 6'3. Northside Senior Hunter Speese was scratched from the competition.

 In the 4x800m Relay, Northside finished in second place in heat one, with an official time of 8:50.21, ahead of Maine East (8:55.41), and Glenbrook North (9:06.50). Northside Junior Erik Zuehlke ran the first 400m in 62 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 65 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:07.47, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Dan Graham. Dan Graham ran the first 400m in 67 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in an EVEN SPLIT of 67 seconds to tie his personal best 800m split of 2:14.47, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Jusuf Skelic. Jusuf Skelic ran the first 400m in 68 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 69 seconds for an outstanding 800m split of 2:17.15, and made a perfect exchange to Sophomore Ezra Edgerton. Ezra Edgerton ran the first 400m in 66 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in a NEGATIVE SPLIT of 64 seconds for a personal best 800m time of 2:10.55, and anchored the Mustangs to second place in their heat with an official time of 8:50.21.

 In the 4x100m Relay, Northside upset Loyola Academy with an official time of 48.62. Northside Freshman ran the first leg of the relay in a 100m split of 11.43, and made a nice exchange to Senior Kevin Jaburek. Kevin Jaburek ran the second leg of the relay in a 100m split of 12.59, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Jusuf Skelic. Jusuf Skelic ran the third leg of the relay in a 100m split of 12.59, and made a nice exchange to Senior Neal Capapas. Neal Capapas anchored the Mustangs with a 100m split of 11.50, for an official time of 48.62.

 In the 3200m run, Northside Senior Cooper Eben, in his final 3200m race of his high school career, ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 9:55.41. Cooper Eben ran the first mile in 4:51, and then ran the final mile in 5:04 for a personal best time of 9:55.41. Cooper Eben ran the third fastest time in the history of Northside College Prep! Cooper Eben dropped 3 minutes and 25 seconds off his 3200m time, through pure hard work, since his first race of his Freshman year in March 2007 (13:20). Cooper Eben has also been a tremendous leader for the Mustangs Cross Country and Track Programs. His work ethic is incredible. He has run over 1500 miles in the summer during the past three years. Cooper Eben will be attending Duke next year, and will be majoring in biomedical engineering. He has a GPA of 5.18, and is going to be honored as a scholar athlete, by the CPS at the Dinner of Champions on June 2, 2010. 

 Northside Junior Charlie Mesimore ran an outstanding time of 10:30.03, and came within 7 seconds of his PR (10:23). Charlie Mesimore ran the first mile in 4:56, and the final mile in 5:34 for an outstanding time of 10:30.03. Prior to Sectionals, Mesimore was undefeated in the 3200m run this year. In a shortened season, Mesimore won the 3200m run in both of his appearances in the event, at the Deerfield Classic, and at Lake Forest Academy. Charlie Mesimore also ran the fastest mile on the Team during the outdoor season, at the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic, with a 4:43. Charlie Mesimore is a great leader, and has tremendous work ethic. After he re-builds his running base this summer, he will be one of the top runners in Illinois next year.

 In the 110m High Hurdles, Northside Junior Hersh Perlmutter ran an outstanding time of 16.42. Northside Senior Andrew Czyszczon ran a time of 23.08.

 In the 100m Dash, Northside Freshman Nathaniel Agharese ran a time of 12.03. Northside Senior Neal Capapas ran a time of 12.19.

 In the 800m run, Northside Sophomore Pat Duffy won the first heat with a PERSONAL BEST time of 2:06.55. Pat Duffy ran the first 400m in 60 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 66 seconds for a personal best time of 2:06.55. Northside Captain Wesley Laytham has had an outstanding two weeks of training prior to IHSA Sectionals, both in the weight room, and on the Track. In the final week of weight training before the taper, Laytham squatted three sets with a record 3 plates on both sides of the Barbell. In his final friday hard workout before the taper, Wesley Laytham ran his last 300m repeat in 39 seconds!, after doing 5 spivey 400m repeats (hitting both drops), and then four 300m repeats. Wesley Laytham has incredible work ethic and mental toughness. Wesley Laytham was seeded #5 in the 800m run in the IHSA Loyola Sectional. However, Wesley Laytham proved that seed times mean nothing on race day. Weslay Laytham ran a pure guts race from start to finish. Wesley Laytham took the lead at the 400m mark with a split of 55 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 62 seconds to BREAK THE SCHOOL RECORD by 3 seconds with a PERSONAL BEST TIME of 1:57.65 to QUALIFY for the IHSA State Championships!!! Wesley Laytham also earned a Medal and All Sectional honors! Wesley Laytham is only a Junior, and in less than 24 hours after the meet, Northside has already been contacted by an NCAA Division I school, Congratulating him, and expressing their interest in him. 

 In the 4x200m Relay, Northside Freshman Nathaniel Agharese, Sophomore Josh Williams, Senior Neal Capapas, and Senior Kevin Jaburek combined for an outstanding time of 1:39.29.

 In the 400m Dash, the automatic qualifying time for the State Championships is 49.94. Athletes were placed in one of four heats based on seed times. Northside Sophomore Ezra Edgerton ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 54.89. Ezra Edgerton had an outstanding season and is going to make a great addition to the Northside Cross Country Team. Edgerton has run 1200m repeats toe to toe with the best distance runners on the squad. Northside Sophomore Mac Melto has broken the 100m Dash, 200m Dash, 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m relays school records this season. He also ran an eye poping 800m time trial the day before City finals. The only record remaining for Melto this season was the 400m Dash. Mac Melto was seeded as the fastest Sophomore in the Loyola Sectional, and #12 overall. Mac Melto proved that seed times mean nothing on race day, by winning his heat, and finishing fifth overall. Mac Melto dropped 2 seconds off his PR, and came within 0.86 of a second from qualifying for State, and WON heat #3 of the 400m Dash with a personal best time of 50.80!!! Mac Melto BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a Personal best time of 50.80! Mac Melto also earned a MEDAL and All Sectional honors by placing fifth overall! Mac Melto ended his Sophomore season with SIX School Records!! Mac Melto will make a great addition to the Northside Cross Country Team, and has a big future in the 400m and 800m run.

 In the 300m Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Luis Mesa ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 51.54. Northside Junior Hersh Perlmutter ran an outstanding time of 43.35. Hersh Perlmutter has broken FOUR School records this season, including the 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, Low Hurdle Shuttle Relay, and High Hurdle Shuttle Relay. Perlmutter is the greatest hurdler in the history of Northside. Hersh Perlmutter is also going to make a great addition to the Northside Cross Country Team in the Fall.

 In the 1600m run, the automatic qualifying time for the State Championships is 4:23.74. A record Six athletes qualified for State in the Loyola Sectional. Loyola Academy Senior Nico Composto won it with an outstanding time of 4:15.51. Maine South Junior David Eckhart finished in second with a time of 4:15.70. Loyola Academy Senior Jack Seeberg finished in third with a time of 4:16.36. New Trier Junior Tomas King finished in fourth with a time of 4:19.01. Prospect Senior Kenny Halloran finished in fifth with a time of 4:21.60. Maine South Senior Sean Senf finished in sixth to complete the scoring with a state qualyfing time of 4:22.69. Northside Senior Cooper Eben ran an outstanding time of 4:51.82. Northside Junior Charlie Mesimore ran an outstanding time of 4:58.86.

 In the 200m Dash, Northside Freshman Nathaniel Agharese ran an outstanding time of 23.98.

 In the 4x400m Relay, Northside upset Glenbrook North (3:38.57) and BROKE the SCHOOL RECORD with a 3:35.73. Northside Sophomore Mac Melto ran a 51.46 on the first leg of the relay, and made a perfect exchange to Northside Sophomore Pat Duffy. Pat Duffy ran a 56.46 400m split, and made a nice exchange to Northside Sophomore Ezra Edgerton. Ezra Edgerton ran a 54.29 400m split, and made a nice exchange to Northside Junior Wesley Laytham. Northside Captain Wesley Laytham anchored the Mustangs with a 53.02 400m split, for a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 3:35.73. Mac Melto, Pat Duffy, Ezra Edgerton, and Wesley Laytham will be honored with school record plaques at the June 4, 2010 Track & Field Banquet.