Announcement
Northside 4x800m Relay drops 20 seconds for Indoor record of 8:34.69! Nathaniel Agharese medals in 60m! 200m! 22.84!! Adrian Black 10:29.57 3200m!
The Northside Varsity Track & Field Team had a big training week leading up to the Gene Armer Invitational in Champaign, Illinois at the University of Illinois Armory on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The Junior Varsity distance squad also prepared for a 2.20 miles Time Trial on Friday, March 15, 2013 in Legion Park. At the same time, the Northside Sophomore and Freshman Track & Field Team prepared for the Indoor Ostberg Sophomore Championships on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
The Northside distance runners had a very impressive week of training. Among other workouts, the Northside distance squad ran three miles warm-up to Chase Park (Lawrence and Ashland), the home of the Mustangs new outdoor Track, before doing 320m repeats, and then ran a three miles cool down, before weight training. It was one of the most intense set of repeats in the history of Northside.
The Northside Sprinters have also been working hard in the hallways, weight room, and on the staircases in preparation for the Gene Armer Invitational and the Sophomore Ostberg Championships. Northside Sprints Coach Mark Morgan has this event group looking fantastic.
The Northside Jumpers and hurdlers have been training for long hours in the hallways, weight room, and having been using the High Jump Pit in the gymnasium, school atriums, and the hurdles in the hallways. This event group has been amazing under Northside Hurdles and Jumps Coach Ed Wallace.
The Northside Pole Vaulters have been training for long hours in the evenings and weekends. In addition, to vault practice in the pit, and the hallways, the vaulters have been training hard in the weight room, and have even been doing gymnastics in preparation for meets. The Northside Vaulters are closing in on the school record under the guidiance of Northside Pole Vault Coach Daniel Turvey.
The Northside throwers have been throwing in the school atriums, and have also been working hard in the weight room. Northside throws coach Carmen Acevedo has the Mustang throwers approaching new personal records every meet.
On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Northside Track & Field Team was visited by All Time great and Alumni legend Charlie Mesimore. Mesimore ran to Clark Street with the Varsity squad, and did eight strides with the Team. Mesimore also helped inspire the Team. Mesimore is currently running for Cornell, and will be competing in a new event, the Steeplechase, in his upcoming Sophomore Outdoor Track and Field season. Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon was able to get Mesimore access to an Indoor 400m Track while he was on spring break in Chicago.
On Saturday, March 16, 2013, the Northside Varsity Track & Field Team departed for Champaign, Illinois at 5:30 am for the Gene Armer Invitational at the University of Illinois Armory. The Armory features a 200m Beynon Encapsulated Polyurethan track that has six lanes on the oval and eight lanes on the straight away.
Over 1.3 million dollars was spent just on the Track surface. The buidling was originally built in 1914, and at the time, it was the largest free-span structure in the world. The main floor measures 200 feet by 400 feet with a ceiling height of 98 feet.
The Armory is also the home of the BIG TEN Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Gene Armer Invitational featured a record 55 Teams, and each school was allowed only one entry per event, and several events (i.e. 3200m run) required qualifying times to be in the meet.
Upon arrival, Northside was greeted by All time great and Alumni legend Eric Nelson. Eric Nelson is currently a student at the University of Illinois, and holds the Northside school record in the High Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Triple Jump, and the Distance Medley Relay.
Medals were awared to the Top 6 individuals. Scoring for Individual events and relays was 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
In the Shot Put, Northside Sophomore Ari Perlmutter threw an outstanding 36'10.
In the High Jump, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick jumped 5'6.
In the Long Jump, Northside Sophomore Porter Abbey jumped a personal best 17'7.50.
In the Triple Jump, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick jumped 35'10.50.
The Northside Outdoor school record for the 4x800m Relay is 8:18.57. Prior to Saturday, the fastest Northside Indoor 4x800m relay time was at the 2012 Indoor City Championships (8:38.89). Northside won the Indoor City Title in the 4x800m Relay in 2012.
In 2013, the Mustangs fastest 4x800m Relay time was 8:54.23. That changed dramatically on Saturday.
In the 4x800m Relay, Northside Captain Patrick Brennan ran the first 200m in a split of 27 seconds, and then passed the defending Class 3A 4x800m Relay State Champions, Lane Tech, on the second lap of the relay, after they dropped a baton, with a 200m split of 31 seconds for a 400m split of 58. Senior Patrick Brennan then ran a 200m split of 33 seconds for a 600m split of 1:31. Patrick Brennan then ran the final 200m in 35.70 seconds for an 800m split of 2:06.70, and made a pefect exchange to Junior Simon Kafka. Simon Kafka ran the first 200m in 28.30 seconds, and then ran a 200m split of 32 seconds for a 400m split of 60.30. Simon Kafka then ran a 200m split of 34 seconds, for a 600m split of 1:34. Simon Kafka then ran the final 200m in a NEGATIVE split of 32.60 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:06.90, and made a nice exchange to Junior Cesar Rufino. Cesar Rufino ran the first 200m in 28.60 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 32 seconds for a personal best 400m time of 60.60 seconds. Rufino had gone through the 400m mark, in a 400m PR! Rufino then ran the next 200m in 36 seconds for a 600m PR of 1:36.60. Cesar Rufino then ran the final 200m in 36.30 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:12.90. Cear Rufino ran a 400m!, 600m!, and 800m personal best time in the same race!!!, and made a great exchange to Northside Sophomore Malcolm Grba. Malcolm Grba ran a 200m split of 29.60 seconds, and then ran a 200m split of 34 seconds for a 400m split of 63.60. Malcolm Grba then ran a NEGATIVE split of 33 seconds for a 600m split of 1:36.60. Malcolm Grba then ran another NEGATIVE split of 31.50 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:08.10 to anchor the Mustangs to a TWENTY SECONDS TIME DROP (8:54) for a NEW NORTHSIDE INDOOR RECORD with an official time of 8:34.69.
After the 20 seconds time drop, the Northside 4x800m Relay (8:34.69) is currently one of the Top 12 4x800m Relays in Illinois. The Indoor State Championships Field currently includes: (1) Cahokia, (2) East St.Louis, (3) Maple Park Kaneland H.S., (4) Pontia, (5) Geneseo, (6) Lansing Illiana Christian, (7) Normal University H.S., (8) Dunlap, (9) Burlington Central, (10) Bloomington H.S., (11) Grayslake Central, and (12) NORTHSIDE COLLEGE PREP. There is still one more day of competition (Monday, March 18, 2013). If no one in Illinois runs a faster 4x800m Relay on Monday, the field for the Indoor State Championships will become official at Noon on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
The Indoor State Championships will take place on Friday, March 22, 2013 and Saturday, March 23, 2013 in Bloomington, Illinois at the Shirk Center, at Illinois Wesleyan University. The Shirk Center features a brand new mondo Track with both floor level and upper deck seating.
In the 3200m run, Northside Sophomore Adrian Black ran the first mile in 5:13, and then ran the final mile in 5:16 for a PERSONAL BEST time of 10:29.57. Adrian Black dropped 9 seconds (10:38.29) with a personal best time of 10:29.57. Adrian Black also came within six seconds (10:23.60) of qualifying for the Indoor State Championships in the 3200m run. Adrian Black will serve as an alternate for the Mustangs in the 4x800m Relay at the Indoor State Championships. Additional alternates for the 4x800m Relay, include: Freshman Danny Rosen, Sophomore Max McCoy, and Freshman Matthew Gomez.
In the 60m High Hurdles, Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in second place in his heat, and 15th overall with a personal best time of 9.36.
In the 60m Dash, Northside Junior Nathaniel Agharese ran a personal best time of 7.23 in the prelims, and then ran another personal best time of 7.22 to finish in sixth place overall. Nathaniel Agharese was awarded a Medal for finishing in sixth place overall. Nathaniel Agharese also QUALIFED for the Indoor State Championships in the 60m Dash. The Top 24 athletes in Illinois qualify for the Indoor State Championships in the 60m Dash.
In the 200m Dash, Northside Junior Nathaniel Agharese ran an outstanding time of 22.84 to win the prelims. In the Finals, Nathaniel Agharese ran a 23.11 to finish in fifth place overall. Nathaniel Agharese was awarded a Medal for finishing in fifth place. Nathaniel Agharese also QUALIFED for the Indoor State Championships in the 200m Dash. The Top 12 athletes in Illinois qualify for the Indoor State Championships in the 200m Dash. Nathaniel Agharese season best time of 22.84 is currently ranked as the fifth fastest in Illinois!
In the 800m run, Northside Senior Patrick Brennan ran a personal best open 800m time of 2:05.08 to finish in seventh place overall. Patrick Brennan ran 200m splits of 29 seconds, 31 seconds (60 seconds 400m split), 31 seconds (1:31 600m split), and then ran the final 200m in 34 seconds for personal best open 800m time of 2:05.08.
In the 4x200m Relay, Northside Sophomore Porter Abbey ran a 26.65 200m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange with Freshman Danny Rosen. Danny Rosen ran a 26.47 200m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a great exchange with Freshman Jack Svoboda. Jack Svoboda ran a 26.84 200m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange with Sophomore Matt Osborne. Matt Osborne anchored the Mustangs past Urbana High School with an impressive 25.87 200m split for a season best time of 1:45.83.
In the 1600m run, Northside Sophomore Malcolm Grba ran a personal best time of 4:50.21. Malcolm Grba ran the first 400m in 68 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 76 seconds (2:24 800m split), and then ran the next 400m in an EVEN split of 76 seconds (3:40 1200m split), and then ran the final 400m in a NEGATIVE Split of 70 seconds for a personal best time of 4:50.21.
In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Sophomore Matt Osborne ran the first leg of the relay in a 400m split of 58.52 seconds, and then made a nice exchange to Senior Patrick Brennan. Patrick Brennan ran the second leg of the relay in a 400m split of 56.28 seconds, and then made a perfect exchange to Sophomore Porter Abbey. Porter Abbey ran a 400m split of 58.69 seconds, and then made a nice exchange to Freshman Matthew Gomez. Matthew Gomez ran a personal best 400m split of 59.83 to anchor the Mustangs past Stagg (3:54.92) and Sacred Heart-Griffin (3:54.93) for an official time of 3:53.32.
A special thanks to Colin Boyle for contributing two photos from the Gene Armer Invitational to the Northside Team website.
The Gene Armer Invitational featured a record 55 Teams. The Northside Varsity Men had a record of 37-17 on the day, and now have a season record of 66-25.
VARSITY POINTS SCORED AT THE GENE ARMER INVITATIONAL
1. Nathaniel Agharese 7.00
2. Patrick Brennan 2.50
3. Malcolm Grba 0.50
3. Simon Kafka 0.50
3. Cesar Rufino 0.50
Every point scored is vital to the success of the TEAM. The outcome of a Championship meet has come down to a single point on several occassions.
SEASON VARSITY POINTS SCORED TOTALS (6 Meets)
1. Lucien Fitzpatrick 86.00
2. Nathaniel Agharese 61.50
3. Patrick Brennan 45.00
4. Malcolm Grba 22.00
5. Matt Osborne 21.50
6. Simon Kafka 19.75
7. Porter Abbey 16.00
8. Cesar Rufino 12.00
9. Walter Johnson-Geis 8.50
10. Robert Szmurlo 8.25
11. Alex Gordon 8.00
12. Calvin Gang 7.75
13. Marshan Milsap 7.50
14. Adrian Black 5.50
15. Spencer Parts 5.00
15. Tom Frejowski 5.00
15. Max McCoy 5.00
15. Henry Lothschutz 5.00
15. Raymond Siddiqi 5.00
16. Danny Rosen 4.00
16. Lawrence Riley 4.00
17. Michael Walt 3.25
18. Keith Jones 2.25
18. Gabriel Jimenez-Ekhman 2.25
18. Jack Svoboda 2.25
19. Emmet Hilly 2.00
19. Alejandro Ballesteros 2.00
20. Patrick Andrade 1.50
21. Alex Bologna 1.25
22. Peter Kritikos 1.00
22. Marek Dobrenko 1.00
All athletes listed above have earned a VARSITY LETTER this season by scoring a Varsity point!
