CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Thursday, May 29, 2014, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, Assistant Coach Patrick O'Connor, and Sprints Coach Wayne Edelman, traveled to Champaign, Illinois for dinner with IHSA State Qualifier Tom Frejowski and Northside Sophomore Danny Rosen.

 Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon treated his coaching staff, Junior Tom Frejowski and Sophomore Danny Rosen to Dinner at Olive Garden, in Champaign, Illinois. On the eve of the IHSA State Championships, Northside was celebrating a season in which they won the Indoor City Championships for the first time in Northside history, and had 29 athletes break a school record, and that number would reach 30 by the end of the IHSA State Championships.

  After dinner, the Northside Track & Field Team departed for Charleston, Illinois in preparation for the IHSA State Championships at Eastern Illinois University. 

 The Mustangs stayed in an "Olympic Village" atmosphere with State Qualifiers from across the State, in Taylor Hall, which was located less than a block from the stadium. Taylor Hall was complete with a Big Screen Television, Air Hockey Tables, and Pool tables. Athletes also visited Souvenir Shops and a local record store on Friday evening to purchase State Track & Field T-shirts.

 On Friday, May 30, 2014, upon arrival to O'Brien Stadium, Tom Frejowski was given a State Qualifier Pin from the IHSA, along with his race number.  

 As the athletes began warm-ups for the 400m Dash, the stadium was filled close to its capacity, and spectators, fans, and Teams, had to park over a half mile away from the Stadium because of the size of the sell-out crowd. Outside the Stadium, there was a large festival of Track & Field souvenir vendors.

 The 2014 IHSA State Championships was an incredible experience for Northside Junior Tom Frejowski and Sophomore Danny Rosen.

 In the 400m Dash, Northside Captain Tom Frejowski ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 50.82.

 After the IHSA Prelims reached a conclusion, the Northside Track & Field Coaching Staff, and athletes traveled from O'Brien Stadium to Smoky's House BBQ for Dinner. 

 After Dinner, Athletes from around the State, including collegiate athletes, prepared for Open races under the lights at O'Brien Stadium.

 At 7 pm, the Open races commenced, Under the Lights, at O'Brien Stadium.

 In the 1600m run, Northside Assistant Coach Patrick O'Connor ran a season best time of 5:02.67. It was the second fastest time ever run by a Northside Coach at the State Meet. 

 In the 100m Dash, Northside Junior Tom Frejowski ran an outstanding time of 12.11.

 In the 800m run, the field featured 44 athletes, with ten athletes entered with "seed" times of 2:00 or better. Northside Sophomore Danny Rosen ran the first 400m in 56 seconds. Rosen was in second place in his heat at the 400m mark!! Rosen then took the lead, and ran the final 400m in 62 seconds to WIN his heat, and BREAK THE TWO MINUTES BARRIER with a PERSONAL BEST time of 1:58.06. Danny Rosen finished first in his heat, and second overall, out of 44 athletes in the 800m run!! It was also the second fastest 800m time in the history of Northside!!

 In the 1000m Steeplechase, Northside Junior Tom Frejowski BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with an official time of 3:07.21. The previous record was 3:29.28. Tom Frejowski broke the school record by 22 seconds with a personal best time of 3:07.21. Tom Frejowski will receive a WATERMELON for breaking the school record, and will be honored with a plaque at the Northside Track & Field Banquet on Friday, June 6, 2014 at the East Bank Club. Northside had 30 athletes break a school record in 2014! Northside Assistant Coach Patrick O'Connor ran a personal best time of 3:17.36 in the 1000m Steeplechase. It was the fastest time ever by a Northside coach in the Steeplechase.

 After the Steeplechase, the TEAM and coaching staff walked from O'Brien Stadium, into town for Pizza. It was an outstanding experience.