CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Sunday, March 22, 2015, the Northside Varsity Mens Varsity Track & Field Team traveled to Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois for the 2015 Indoor City Championships.

 Several collegiate coaches were in attendance, scouting the meet, including University of Wisconsin Coach Kareem Jackson. University of Wisconsin Sprints Coach Kareem Jackson and Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon were on the same coaching staff together at the University of Chicago from 2003 - 2005, and enjoyed the reunion.

 From 2011-2013, Northside has finished in second place at the Varsity Chicago Public League Indoor Championships. In 2014, Northside won their first Indoor City title.

 Northside has finished in the Top 2 at the Indoor Championships for four consecutive years.

 To win the 2015 Varsity Indoor City Championships, it would require Northside to have some of the most incredible performances in the history of the program. 

 The "A" division of the 2015 Varsity Indoor City Championships featured a very impressive field. Among others, North Lawndale was the top Chicago Public League Team at the 2014 Class 3A IHSA State Track & Field Championships. Dunbar finished FIFTH in State at the 2014 IHSA State Track & Field Championships, and scored the most points for the Chicago Public League at the Class 3A IHSA State Track & Field Championships in 2013 and 2012 (4th in State as a Team). Chicago Whitney Young finished second at the 2013 Varsity Outdoor City Championships, and scored the second most points for the Chicago Public League at the 2013 Class 3A IHSA State Track & Field Championships. Perspectives Charter won the indoor city title in 2013. Simeon had also won the indoor Title as recently as 2011. Taft, Kenwood, and Wendell Phillips also have outstanding Teams. It was an incredible field, and a very special meet.

  The 2015 Varsity Indoor City Championships featured non-stop action and intense competition in every event. Team scores were so tight, that it came down to the final event of the meet, the 4x400m relay to decide the 2015 Varsity Indoor City Champion.

 The surprise Team of the meet was the Mather Rangers. Mather finished fifth at both the indoor and outdoor City Championships in 2014, and lost most of their top athletes from a year ago to graduation. The Mather Rangers surprised everyone but themselves by holding second place to Northside, by a score of 54 to 61 with one event remaining in the competition, the 4x400m Relay. 

 Prior to Sunday, the fastest Northside 4x400m Relay of the season was a 3:46.10 at the Maine East Blue Demon Invitational. Northside was only seeded sixth in the Program. Northside would need to break 3:40 to have a chance at winning the 4x400m Relay and go home with the Team title.

 The four men chosen by the Northside Coaching Staff for the 4x400m Relay were Malcolm Grba, Danny Rosen, Porter Abbey, and Tom Frejowski. All four athletes had already competed in prior events. Senior Malcolm Grba finished in second place to earn a Medal and All City Honors in the 1600m run. Junior Danny Rosen finished in second place to earn a Medal and All City Honors in the 800m run. Senior Porter Abbey finished in third place to earn a Medal and All City Honors in the Long Jump. Senior Tom Frejowski also secured vital points for the mustangs by earning All City Honors in the 400m Dash.

 Every seat in the Proviso West Indoor Track & Field stadium was filled. People were standing in the infield, and along the fence to get a glimpse of the 4x400m Relay.

 The respective Teams and Athletes toed the line for the 4x400m Relay, and the gun was fired!  On the first leg of the 4x400m Relay, Northside Captain Malcolm Grba ran an outstanding 400m split of 55.22, and then made a perfect exchange to Danny Rosen. Northside Junior Danny Rosen ran an impressive 400m split of 54.54, and then made a nice exchange to Porter Abbey. Northside Senior Porter Abbey ran a PERSONAL BEST 400m split of 55.50, and then made a perfect exchange to Tom Frejowski. Northside Captain Tom Frejowski was incredible, and passed two Teams, including Whitney Young in the final 100m to anchor the Mustangs to VICTORY with an impressive 53.78 400m split for an official time of 3:39.48. Northside dropped 7 seconds (3:46.10) to WIN the 4x400m Relay!

 Johnson College Prep finished in second place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 3:39.60. Whitney Young finished in third place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 3:40.28. Dunbar finished in fourth place with an official time of 3:45.67. Taft finished in fifth place with an official time of 3:48.40. North Lawndale finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 3:48.85. 

 Northside College Prep WON the 2015 Varsity Indoor City Title with 71 points and posted victories over: 2. Mather (54 points), 3. Whitney Young (45 points), 4. Simeon (44 points), 5. Taft (40 points), 6. Dunbar (38 points), 7. Kenwood (35 points), 8. Johnson College Prep (25 points), 9. Wendell Phillips (18 points), 10. Steinmetz (17 points), 11. North Lawndale (13 points), 12. Walter Payton (12 points), 13. Orr (12 points), 14. Perspectices-Calumet (2 points).    

 Athletes will be awarded TEAM trophies for WINNING the 2015 Varsity Indoor City Title at the June 5, 2015 Track & Field Banquet. Relay Alternates and members of the Team in attendance will also be awarded City Champion Trophies.

 Individual events and relays were scored on the following point scale: 10-8-6-4-2-1.

NORTHSIDE ATHLETES FEATURED ON CHICAGOLAND PREPS:

Northside Indoor City Champion 4x400m Relay

Kyle Friedler - Indoor City 3200m run Champion