Announcement
Malcolm Grba WINS IHSA Sectional 1600m run!! Patrick Brennan Qualifies for STATE in 1600m run!!
The IHSA Sectional 1600m run featured Northside Senior Patrick Brennan and Sophomore Malcolm Grba, two of the hardest working, and mentally toughest athletes in the history of Northside College Prep. This season the closest outdoor track to Northside was three miles away because of the reconstruction of River Park Track. Brennan and Grba, frequently had to lead their teammates on a 3 miles warm-up to Chase Park on the corner of Lawrence and Ashland before doing an entire Track workout, on a 320m Track, and then run a 3 miles cool down back to Northside, and then weight training for an hour, and then spend another hour doing core training before leaving Northside as late as 7 pm at night, and that was just the start of their training week on a Monday.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Patrick Brennan and Malcolm Grba received one of their rewards for their hard work this season, by becoming the first Distance runners in the history of Northside to QUALIFY for STATE in FOUR events, including the 4x800m Relay, 800m, 1600m, and 4x400m Relay.
In the IHSA Sectional 1600m run, Malcolm Grba ran the first 400m in 69 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 78 seconds (2:27 800m), and then ran the next 400m in a NEGATIVE split of 71 seconds (3:38 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in another NEGATIVE split of 67 seconds to WIN the IHSA Sectional 1600m run with an official time of 4:45.71. The Northside coaching staff recorded an even faster time (4:41.71), but are required to use the F.A.T. results as the official time. Malcolm Grba was awarded an IHSA Champion MEDAL for winning the 1600m run.
Malcolm Grba scored a total of 20 points in the meet, to bring his Varsity season points total to 117.50 points, going into the IHSA State Championships!!! In the history of Northside, only four athletes have ever scored over 100 Varsity points during their Sophomore season!! In addition, Malcolm Grba also scored 90.75 Sophomore points this season!
Patrick Brennan ran the first 400m in 70 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 78 seconds (2:28 800m), and then ran the next 400m in a NEGATIVE split of 72 seconds (3:40 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in another NEGATIVE split of 66 seconds to finish SECOND in the IHSA Sectional 1600m run and QUALIFY for STATE with an official time of 4:46.44. The Northside coaching staff recorded an even faster time (4:42.44), but are required to use the F.A.T. results as the official time. Patrick Brennan was awarded an IHSA MEDAL for finishing in second place.
Patrick Brennan scored a total of 18 points in the meet, to bring his Varsity season points total to 139.50 points, going into the IHSA State Championships!!! It is the most Varsity points ever scored by a Northside Distance runner. Patrick Brennan currently holds the school record in the 4x800m Relay, and the Middle Distance Medley Relay (200m-200m-400m-800m), and will be seeking to break both the 4x800m Relay school record and the 1600m run school record at the IHSA State Championships!
In addition to qualifying for State in four Track events this year, Patrick Brennan also qualified for State in Track and Cross Country in his Junior year. The Northside Coaching Staff recently nominated Patrick Brennan for Northside Senior Male Athlete of the Year. Every Head Coach of every sport at Northside will vote on the award , and the winner will be announced at the Senior Awards lunch in June.
Norridge Ridgewood Senior Steve Wrobel finished in third place with an official time of 5:09.45. Chicago Bulls College Prep Sophomore Jonathan Rico finished in fourth place with an official time of 5:13.61. CICS/Northtown Sophomore Bryan Gonzalez finished in fifth place with an official time of 5:14.71. Chicago UIC Junior Julian Cruz finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 5:19.62.
