CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Friday, April 29, 2011, the Northside Varsity Men traveled to Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois for the 49th Annual Spartan Relays.

 The meet featured Deerfield, Maine South, York, New Trier, Glenbrook South, Northside College Prep, Highland Park, Stevenson, Lake Zurich, Loyola Academy, and host Glenbrook North.

 The meet featured the High Jump Relay, Long Jump Relay, Pole Vault Relay, Triple Jump Relay, Shot Put Relay, Discus Relay, High Hurdle Shuttle Relay, 4x800m Relay, 4x100m Relay, Distance Medley Relay, Middle Distance Medley Relay, Sprint Medley Relay, 4x1 Mile Relay, 4x200m Relay, Low Hurdle Shuttle Relay, Throwers 4x100m Relay, and the 4x400m Relay.

 It is the best relay meet in Illinois, and the hospitality and sportsmanship was second to none.

 One hour before the Track events commenced, Glenbrook North trainer Tom O'Connell showed great sportsmanship by taping opposing athletes ankles and/or feet, including, Northside Sophomore Nathaniel Agharese. Glenbrook North trainer Tom O'Connell also provided Agharse with an orthodic insert for future practices.

 Glenbrook North Head Coach Matt Purdy provided meals for the entire coaching staffs of all eleven visiting Teams. Opposing athletes were giving each other high fives after every jump at the high jump pit or throw at the Discus cage. The stands were filled with athletes that had competed at Spartan Relays in previous years. Several Northside Alumni, came back from College to see the meet, including Andrew Czysczon.  

  The Spartan Relays has a fourty-nine years history of future Olympians, State Champions, and All State Athletes coming together to compete in the Ultimate Relay meet. All events are Relays, including Field Events and Hurdles. 

 Olympians that have competed in Spartan Relays include Ohio State's Robert Gary. Spartan Relay Alumni include NCAA Champion Dave Valentine. Recent State Champions that have competed in Spartan Relays include 1600m Champion, Tom Robbins (Loyola Academy). The list of current and past All State Athletes that have competed in Spartan Relays is endless.

 A Medal or a Ribbon from Spartan Relays is priceless. The Top 3 Teams in each event are awarded a Medal, and places fourth through six are awarded a Ribbon.

 In the Discus Relay, Northside Senior Allen Tu threw a personal best 91'0!. Allen Tu improved by 9'7.5! Northside Senior Ottmar Flores threw 63'0. Northside Senior Andres Delgado threw a personal best 54'7. Northside Junior Joseph Smith threw 48'0.

 In the Shot Put Relay, Northside Senior Allen Tu threw 33'1. Northside Junior Joseph Smith threw 28'1. Northside Senior Mohammed Ahmed threw a personal best 26'9! Northside Senior Ottmar Flores threw 26'0.

 In the Long Jump Relay, Northside Junior Josh Williams jumped 18'11.5. Northside Junior Derek Lin jumped 14'2.75. Northside Senior Hersh Perlmutter jumped 11'11.25. Northside Senior Luis Gaytan jumped 9'6. 

 In the Triple Jump Relay, Northside Junior Josh Williams jumped 37'1. Northside Junior Dan Graham jumped 32'6. Northside Junior Mac Melto jumped 31'7.25. Northside Junior Derek Lin jumped 27'4.25. 

 The Northside 4x800m Relay school record of 8:30.34 was set by Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Jon Kittaka, Cooper Eben, and Wesley Laytham in 2009 at the CPS Outdoor Conference Prelims. The record has lasted for two years.

 There was a lot of high energy at Spartan Relays going into the 4x800m Relay. Northside Senior Charlie Mesimore was running in his first outdoor meet of the season. This boosted the morale of the whole TEAM. With Laytham, Mesimore, Duffy, and Edgerton in the same Relay, a school record was a strong possibility.

 Wesley Laytham was assigned the lead off leg of the relay, so he would be able to recover in time for the 4x100m Relay, and put the Mustangs in front. Ezra Edgerton was assigned the honor and pressure of anchoring the 4x800m relay.

 The 4x800m Relay field included Tommy King and New Trier High School. New Trier finished in the top nine in the State in the 4x800m Relay last year, and they have broken eight minutes at every meet this season. 

 Wesley Laytham ran a 1:59.45 800m split on the first leg of the relay to put the Mustangs up in front with New Trier. Wesley Laytham ran awesome, and put the Mustangs on school record pace! 

 Wesley Laytham made a perfect exchange to Charlie Mesimore. Mesimore ran outstanding, and made a nice exchange to Pat Duffy. Pat Duffy ran his fastest 800m split of the year, and made a perfect exchange to Ezra Edgerton. Ezra Edgerton ran a personal best 800m split, and anchored the Mustangs to a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 8:28.80. 

 The Northside 4x800m Relay finished in sixth place overall, with an official time of 8:28.80, and posted victories over 7. York (8:35.10), 8. Glenbrook South (8:42.00), 9. Loyola Academy (8:44.10), 10. Glenbrook North (9:03.80), and Stevenson (9:09.40).

 It was also the third fastest 4x800m Relay time in the Chicago Public League this season!

 Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Pat Duffy, and Ezra Edgerton were awarded ribbons for placing sixth overall.

 Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Pat Duffy, and Ezra Edgerton will also be honored and awarded Watermelons in practice on Monday for breaking the school record in the 4x800m Relay!!!

 Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Pat Duffy, and Ezra Edgerton will also be awarded Plaques at the June 3, 2011 Track & Field Banquet for breaking the school record in the 4x800m Relay!!!

 In the 4x100m Relay, Northside had slight trouble with the first exchange, but have already corrected it. Northside Sophomore Nathaniel Agharese ran a 12.85 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Junior Josh Williams ran a 10.31 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Senior Wesley Laytham ran a 11.31 100m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Junior Mac Melto anchored the Mustangs to fifth place overall with a 10.29 100m split, for an official time of 45.30. Northside posted victories over Stevenson, Lake Zurich, York, and Glenbrook North in the 4x100m Relay.

 In the Middle Distance Medley Relay, Northside Senior Ottmar Flores ran a 28.39 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Senior Hersh Perlmutter ran a 23.93 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Senior Charlie Mesimore ran a 59.13 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Junior Pat Duffy wasn't feeling well after his record setting performance in the 4x800m relay, but still came back and ran an outstanding 2:19.61 800m split, for an official time of 4:11.06. The Mustangs came within 0.46 of the school record!

 In the 4x1 Mile Relay, Northside Junior Ezra Edgerton ran a 4:54.80 split on the first mile of the relay. Northside Junior Dan Graham ran a 5:05.12 split on the second mile of the relay. Northside Senior Erik Zuehlke ran a 5:13.03 split on third mile of the relay. Northside Junior Luis Gaytan ran a 5:49.88 split on fourth mile of the relay, to anchor the Mustangs to an official time of 21:02.83.

 In the 4x200m Relay, Northside Senior Ottmar Flores ran a 28.82 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Senior Hersh Perlmutter ran a 24.85 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Senior Charlie Mesimore ran a 27.34 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Junior Pat Duffy ran an impressive 25.85 200m split, to anchor the Mustangs to an official time of 1:46.86.

 In the Throwers 4x100m Relay, Northside Senior Andres Delgado ran a 13.32 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Senior Ottmar Flores ran a 13.45 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Senior Mohammed Ahmed ran a 13.77 100m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Junior Joseph Smith ran a 13.23 100m split, to anchor the Mustangs to an official time of 53.90.