CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Tuesday, March 25, 2014, the Northside College Prep Sophomore Freshman TEAM traveled to Bensenville, Illinois to take on Lake Park, St.Joseph, West Chicago, Lindbloom, and host Fenton in the 36th Annual Emil Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships.

 Since 2010, the winner of the Ostberg Indoor Championships has gone on to win the Class 3A Outdoor State Track & Field Championships. It is the most competitive Sophomore Indoor Meet in Illinois. 

 Fenton is a special venue, and a great atmosphere for Track & Field. The P.A. announcer makes all the Teams feel welcome, and gives scoring updates after every event.

 Fenton also features a 135 yards track. Athletes have the privilege of knowing their racing splits every 135 yards for 26 laps in the Two miles run.

  The Emil Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships is named after three former Fenton athletes, who earned All-American honors during their collegiate careers. Jim Nichols (All-American in the 800m run), Emil Ostberg (All-American in the 200m Dash), Art Seimers (All-American in the Mile, and brother of Fenton legend Chris Seimers). 

 To earn All-American honors, a collegiate athlete has to place in the Top 8 in their event at the NCAA National Track & Field Championships. At the Emil Ostberg Championships, Plaques were awarded to the Top 5 individual finishers and the Top 4 Relays in every event.

 All of the events are in Yards at Fenton. As a result, the athletes race 3,510 yards for the Two Miles run, which is actually 3,209.54 Meters. The athletes race 1,755 yards for the mile, which is actually 1,604.772 Meters. The athletes race 880 yards for the half-mile, which is actually 804.672 Meters. The athletes race 440 yards for the quarter, which is actually 402.336 Meters. The athletes race 220 yards for the 200, which is actually 201.168 Meters.    

 Prior to Tuesday, only two Northside athletes have won an individual event at the Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships, Northside Alumni Charlie Mesimore (3200m run Champion, 2008 and 2009, Art Seimers Mile Champion, 2009), and Northside Alumni Josh Williams (Long Jump Champion, 2010).

 Prior to Tuesday, the highest Northside had finished as a Team in the Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships was third place (2013). That changed dramatically on Tuesday.

 In a nice awards ceremony following the meet, Northside was awarded a towering TEAM Trophy for finishing in SECOND place overall. It was the highest TEAM finish at the Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships in the history of Northside!

 Northside was also awarded a record 36 plaques for individual events and relays. Plaques are awarded to the top five athletes in individual events, and top four teams in relays.

 Lake Park won the Ostberg Sophomore Indoor Championships with 180 points. Northside finished in second place with 129 points, and posted victories over: 3. West Chicago (109 points), 4. Fenton (52 points), 5. Lindbloom (36 points), and St. Joseph (7 points).

  Individual Events were scored 10-8-6-4-2-1.  Relays were scored 10-8-6-4-2.

 In the Pole Vault, Northside Sophomore Xavier Sigelko finished in THIRD place with a vault of 8'0. Xavier Sigelko was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in third place overall. Northside Sophomore Brendan Powers finished in fourth place with a vault of 7'6. Brendan Powers was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in fourth place.

 In the Shot Put, Northside Freshman Jacob Cosby finished in THIRD place with a PERSONAL BEST throw of 37'6. Jacob Cosby was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in third place overall. Northside Sophomore Simon Lothschutz finished in fifth place with an outstanding throw of 26'4. Simon Lothschutz was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the High Jump, Northside Sophomore Keith Jones finished in fourth place with a personal best jump of 5'2. Keith Jones was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in fourth place overall. Northside Sophomore Garret Barch finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a personal best jump of 5'0.

 In the Long Jump, Northside Freshman Brandon Banas finished in THIRD place with a personal best jump of 17'1. Brandon Banas was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in third place overall. Northside Sophomore Garret Barch finished in fifth place with a personal best jump of 16'5. Garret Barch was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the Triple Jump, Northside Freshman Jack Nolan finished in fourth place with a jump of 26'9.5. Jack Nolan was awarded an engraved PLAQUE for finishing in fourth place overall.

 In the 50 Yards Dash Prelims, Northside Sophomore Philip Wdowiak finished in second place in his heat to advance to the finals with an official time of 6.20. Northside Sophomore Steven Kataba also finished in second place in his heat to advance to the finals with an official time of 6.20.

 In the 4x880 Yards Relay, Northside Sophomore Hyun-Woo Ward ran a personal best 880 yards split of 2:38.40, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Christian Thorsberg. Christian Thorsberg ran an outstanding 880 yards split of 2:38.66, and made a perfect exchange to Freshman Sergio Soto. Sergio Soto ran a personal best 880 yards split of 2:32.63, and made a nice exchange to Freshman Kyle Friedler. Kyle Friedler anchored the Mustangs to FOURTH place with an impressive 2:28.00 880 yards split for an official time of 10:18.50. Hyun-Woo Ward, Christian Thorsberg, Sergio Soto, and Kyle Friedler were awarded PLAQUES for finishing in fourth place overall.