CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Friday, February 1, 2013, the Northside Varsity Track & Field Team traveled to Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois for the Wolves Indoor Classic.

 The meet featured a record 20 Teams, including Walter Payton, Niles North, Northtown Academy, Mather, Gordon Tech, Northside College Prep, North Lawndale, Orr Academy, Gwendolyn Brooks, Von Steuben, Marshall, Schurz, Lincoln Park, Urban Prep, Simeon, Taft, Perspective Charter, and host Niles West.

 Team Camps were spread out in the hallways throughout the school. Spectators quickly filled the stands, and hundreds of spectators watched the meet from standing room only sections of the Track. The Stadium was at full capacity for first Indoor Track meet of the year. 

 Former Northside Volunteer Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida traveled all the way from Tuscon, Arizona to see the Mustangs first meet of the year. Northside Alumni parent Craig Williams was also there to greet the Mustangs. Northside had a record number of Alumni, Parents, and Fans in attendance.

 Individual Events and Relays were scored on the following point scale: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

 In the Varsity division, Niles West won with 118 points. Niles North finished in second place with 77.50 points. Brooks finished in third place with 68.50 points. North Lawndale finished in fourth place with 58 points.

 Northside College Prep (15-4) finished in fifth place with 54.50 points, and posted victories over: 6. Walter Payton (43.50 points), 7. Perspectives Calumet (39 points), 8. Orr Academy (29.50 points), 9. Mather (24 points), 10. Urban Prep (22 points), 11. Von Steuben (21 points), 12. Lincoln Park (17 points), 13. Taft (11 points), 14. Gordon Tech (10 points), 15. Lake View (6 points), 15. Marshall (6 points), 17. Schurz (4 points), 18. UIC College Prep (0 points), 19. Clark (0 points), and 20. Northtown Academy (0 points). 

 In the Pole Vault, it is extremely rare for a vaulter to clear any height in their very first meet. In 2001, Northside Coach Jon Gordon had a vaulter at St.Johns, by the name of Charlie Harrison, who cleared nothing in his first couple of meets, and then went on to the State meet with a vault of 11'0. Northside did not expect anyone to clear a height at the first meet. However, Northside Senior Spencer Parts made history by clearing 6'0, and began his quest for the School Record and the State Meet!

 Spencer Parts was discovered in the weight room, when he came in to pick up his younger brother from Cross Country practice. Spencer Parts did 28 consecutive Pull-ups, and was immediately recruited for the Track Team. Spencer Parts and Freshman Emmet Hilly are working hard with former NCAA Division I vaulter, and Pole Vault Coach Dan Turvery (PR of 16'7). Northside is planning on qualifying two athletes this season in Pole Vault for the Class 2A IHSA State Championships!

 In the Shot Put, Northside Junior Henry Lothschutz threw an outstanding 29'10. Northside Junior Walter Johnson-Geis threw an outstanding 22'0. Northside Junior Robert Szmurlo threw an outstanding 21'0.5.

 In the Long Jump, Northside had no entries in the Varsity division.

 In the Triple Jump, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in fourth place with a jump of 36'1.

 In the High Jump, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in second place tie with a jump of 5'6. Northside Junior Walter Johnson-Geis finished in sixth place with a jump of 5'0.   

 The first official points scored in the Track Events for the Mustangs came in the 1000m run. Northside Junior Simon Kafka finished in fifth place in his heat, and in sixth place overall with a personal best time of 2:58.60. Simon Kafka was also within 7.50 seconds of the Northside record for the 1000m run (Cooper Eben, 2:51.1, 2010). It was a very impressive race. Senior Raymond Siddiqi also ran an outstanding time of 3:10.40. Junior Alex Gordon ran an outstanding time of 3:19.40.

 In the 55m High Hurdles, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished third in his heat, and in a tie for fifth place with a personal best time of 8.70. Fitzpatrick dropped 0.70 of a second from last year! Northside Junior Walter Johnson-Geis also ran a personal best time of 9.70.

 In the 50m Dash, Northside Senior Nathaniel Agharese finished in third place in his heat, and tied Niles West Holbrook for sixth place with an outstanding time of 6.40. Northside Junior Lawrence Riley ran an outstanding time of 7.60.

 In the 800m run, Northside Senior Patrick Brennan finished in THIRD place with an outstanding time of 2:09.40. Brennan dropped 10 seconds from the first meet from last year (2:19). It was also the fastest Northside Time ever on the Niles West 160m Track. The previous best 800m time on Niles West 160m Track was held by Wesley Laytham (2010, 2:11.0). Northside Junior Cesar Rufino finished in tenth place with an outstanding time of 2:22.50. Northside Senior Calvin Gang finished in 14th place with an outstanding time of 2:25.40. 

 In the 4x160m Relay, Northside was forced to scratch the relay due to Junior Jay Yu not showing up to the meet, and an injury to Junior Patrick Andrade.

 In the 600m run, Northside Junior Simon Kafka finished in fourth place in his heat, and eighth place overall with a personal best time of 1:37.1. Northside Senior Alex Bologna ran a personal best time of 1:44.00. Northside Junior Robert Szmurlo ran an outstanding time of 1:45.40. 

 In the 400m run, Northside Senior Nathaniel Agharese scratched from the event.

 In the 55m Low Hurdles, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished fifth in his heat, and in a sixth place tie with an official time of 8.10.

 In the 1600m Run, Northside Senior Patrick Brennan ran the first 800m in 2:28, and then ran a NEGATIVE split of 2:26 to finish in THIRD place with an outstanding time of 4:54.60. Northside Junior Cesar Rufino ran the first 800m in 2:32, and then ran the final 800m in 2:39 to finish in ninth place with an official time of 5:11.50. Northside Senior Raymond Siddiqi ran the first 800m in 2:43, and then ran the final 800m in 2:51 for an official time of 5:34. Northside Junior Alex Gordon ran the first 800m in 2:50, and then ran the final 800m in 2:58 for an official time of 5:48.

 In the 200m Dash, Junior Jay Yu and Junior Patrick Andrade were both scratched.

 In the 4x160 Weightmens Relay, Northside WON it with an official time of 1:34.50. Junior Walter Johnson-Geis ran a 21.92 160m split on the first leg of the relay. Junior Lawrence Riley ran a 23.73 160m split on the second leg of the relay. Junior Henry Lothschutz ran a 24.71 160m split on the third leg of the relay. Junior Robert Szmurlo anchored the Mustangs to Victory with a 23.78 160m split for an official time of 1:34.50.

 In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Junior Simon Kafka ran a 59.21 400m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Senior Calvin Gang ran a 61.69 400m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Junior Robert Szmurlo ran a 66.01 400m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Senior Alex Bologna anchored the Mustangs to fourth place overall with a 63.76 400m split for an official time of 4:19.20. 

VARSITY POINTS SCORED AT NILES WEST WOLVES INDOOR CLASSIC 

1. Lucien Fitzpatrick                              18.00 

2. Patrick Brennan                                 12.00 

3. Walter Johnson-Geis                        5.50 

4. Simon Kafka                                       5.25 

5. Robert Szmurlo                                  3.75