CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 For sheer drama, the 2012 Illinois Prep Top Times, the "Indoor State Meet", may have topped anything ever seen in the last ten years in Illinois, or maybe ever. It was a fantastic meet from start to finish.

 On Friday, March 23, 2012, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon and Northside Senior Mac Melto traveled to the 2012 Illinois Prep Top Times, the "Indoor State Meet", in Bloomington, Illinois. Northside Sprints Coach Mark Morgan and nephew Patrick Morgan (member of State Champion York Cross Country Team, and a Team that finished second at Nike Nationals) met Gordon and Melto at Eastland Suites in Bloomington, Illinois.

 A special thanks to Northside Principal Barry Rodgers and Athletic Director Andrew Mayer for outstanding hotel accomadations. The hotel suites were complete with a kitchen, full size refrigerator, stove, King size beds, living room, fireplace, balcony, 32' Television, and a second floor loft, which contained an additional bedroom, King size bed, and a second bathroom.

 After checking-in at the hotel, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, Sprints Coach Mark Morgan, former State Champion Patrick Morgan, and Northside Senior Mac Melto departed for Olive Garden. Melto had a pre-meet dinner of Spaghetti and Meatballs, and ice water.

 After dinner, the Northside Coaching Staff took Mac Melto to a local grocery store to stock up his hotel suite refrigerator with bottled water, and trail mix for an evening snack.

 On Saturday, March 24, 2012, Northside departed at 9 am, from Eastland Suites to the Shirek Center Indoor Track & Field Stadium at Illinois Wesleyan University. The energy in the stadium was electric, with a sold-out stadium crowd filled to its capacity, with people standing in the upper deck just to get a glimpse of the meet. The stadium featured a digital screen, showing the results of all the events throughout the meet, and a play-by-play announcer, who gave live commentary on every event that took place.

 Mac Melto received his race numbers upon arrival, and was placed in a large turf room adjacent to the stadium to put away belongings, 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 the stands on the main floor, that were roped off from the Track.

 Mac Melto had one of the largest cheering sections at the meet, which included his parents, Bud and Crystal Melto, and Northside Girls Team Captain Lisa Wendt. Lisa Wendt took a train from Chicago to Bloomington to see Mac Melto compete at the 2012 Illinois Prep Top Times.

 Lane Tech Coach Tony Jones was one of the first coaches to greet Mac Melto, and wish him good luck. Jones College Prep Coach Andrew Adelman and Jamieson Dale were also cheering for Mac Melto. In Chicago, the entire Northside Track & Field TEAM was watching the 55m Dash Finals and the 400m run on a live webcast. Bob Geiger (former DePaul Track Alumni), Kris Roof (former DePaul Track Alumni), David Timlin, and members of the Lane Tech 4x800m relay also congratulated Mac Melto after the 400m run. A special thanks to everyone for their support.

 Northside witnessed an incredible Track meet throughout the day, as they waited for the 55m Dash prelims, 55m Dash Finals, and the 400m run.

 A week ago, Mac Melto won the Chicago Public League 55m Indoor title to qualify for Illinois Prep Top Times in the 55m dash.

 In the 55m prelims, Mac Melto had seven to eight runners seeded ahead of him. Mac Melto surprised everyone by placing 3rd in his heat, and sixth overall to advance to the 55m Finals!

 In the 55m Finals, Mac Melto dropped .03 of a second from the prelims to the finals, to finish in FOURTH place overall with an outstanding time of 6.61. Melto was seeded sixth after the prelims, and improved by two places in the finals to finish fourth! Melto was awarded a MEDAL for placing fourth overall in the 55m Dash! It was the highest any athlete in the history of Northside College Prep placed at Illinois Prep Top Times! The best was yet to come.

 After being honored on the medal stand for his fourth place performance in the 55m dash, Mac Melto had to change back into his spikes, and warm-up for the 400m run.

 In Class 3A, a 50.72 won the 400m run. The Class 2A record for the Indoor 400m run was held by DJ Zahn of Morton high school with a 50.70.

 In the 400m run, Chicago Northside Senior Mac Melto took the lead with a 23.60 200m split, and then ran a 25.65 in the final 200 meters to WIN the Indoor 400m Title with a 49.25! Mac Melto also BROKE the Class 2A Indoor 400m record with a 49.25! It was the fastest 400m time in ALL three classes in the meet! Mac Melto is also the first athlete in the history of Northside College Prep to win an individual title at Illinois Prep Top Times! Mac Melto will be awarded a Watermelon at practice on monday for breaking the Class 2A Indoor 400m record!

  In 2012, Melto showed incredible fitness, and energy after the race. Melto gave a high five to Northside Sprints Coach Mark Morgan, and then another high five to Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon after winning the 400m run! He was fully recovered in a matter of seconds, and was able to do an interview with Mike Clark of the Chicago Sun-Times right after the race, and then do a second interview with Michael Newman of ESPN Rise, before he even went to get a drink of water. His incredible endurance and strength will have a major impact for the Northside 4x400m Relay at the Outdoor State Championships. 

 In a nice ceremony following the 400m run, Mac Melto was honored on the Medal stand with a trophy for winning the Illinois Prep Top Times 400m run!

 Mac Melto scored a total of 15 points in the 400m run and the 55m dash! Mac Melto also ran the fastest 400m time in Illinois this year!

 Mac Melto was also named the Class 2A Athlete of the meet, and received a towering glass trophy from Illinois Prep Top Times.

 After the meet, Bud and Crystal Melto treated the Northside Track & Field Coaching Staff to dinner, before returning to Chicago. A special thanks to the Melto family for dinner. 

 Mac Melto will be honored again at Northside, and the entire Northside Track & Field Team will be provided with Gatorade at practice on Monday to celebrate Northside's first indoor state champion in the 400m run!, a Class 2A Indoor record in the 400m run!, a 55m dash Illinois Prep Top Times Medalist!, and the Class 2A Athlete of the meet!!

VARSITY SEASON POINTS SCORED TOTAL (9 MEETS) 

1. Mac Melto                                        145.25 

4. Dan Graham                                       50.50

 WIN = What's Important Now?

Mac Melto featured in ESPN Rise: http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/track-and-xc/post/_/id/2620/iptt-class-2a-boys-melto-steps-over-the-edge-to-win-400-athlete-of-meet

Mac Melto featured in the Chicago Sun-Times (P.50A) at: http://yourseason.suntimes.com/home/11515384-390/boys-tracks-malachy-schrobilgen-tumbles-to-victory-in-1600-mac-melto-wins-400.html

Video of Class 2A 400m run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXyj0IQOwU&feature=autoplay&list=UUKTArJYnnmSu0gem8RIoE5w&lf=plcp&playnext=1