Announcement
Senior Tom Frejowski anchors Northside to victory in the 4x400m Relay to tie Leo for FIRST place with 167 points! Garret Barch WINS 110m Hurdles!
On Wednesday, April 1, 2015, Northside traveled to River Park Track in Chicago, Illinois for the Eric Nelson Classic.
The meet featured Chicago Leo High School (2012 IHSA State Track and Field Champions), Chicago Bulls College Prep, Von Steuben, Ogden International, Roosevelt, and host Northside College Prep.
The 2015 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic provided a very special Track & Field experience for all participants.
Medals were awarded to the Top 3 Athletes in each event. Ribbons were awarded for places fourth through sixth. Goody bags were also given to all participants on every team.
Once a Northside athlete holds the school record and has qualified for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships in that event, the event is then named after the athlete in the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic, beginning the following year.
Plaques were awarded to the winner of the High Jump in honor of Northside Alumni Eric Nelson, the winner of the 800m run in honor of Northside Alumni Wesley Laytham, the winner of the Long Jump in honor of Northside Alumni Josh Williams, the winner of the 400m run in honor of Northside Alumni Mac Melto, the winner of the 110m Hurdles in honor of Northside Alumni Lucien Fitzaptrick, and the winners of the 4x800m Relay in honor of IHSA State Qualifiers Malcolm Grba, Danny Rosen, and Northside Alumni Simon Kafka, and Patrick Brennan.
River Park Track was spectacular. It is one of the best venues in Chicago for Track & Field.
A special thanks to Northside parents Juan and Diana Sotomayor for serving as the clerks of the course, and for checking in over 660 athletes, and providing them with hip numbers for each event.
A special thanks to the Rappaport Family, the Lowenthal Family, the Lothschutz Family, the Sotomayor Family, and the Northside Coaching Staff for helping make 320 goody bags for the Eric Nelson Classic.
The Team would also like to thank Northside Assistant Distance Coach Patrick O'Connor, Sprints Coach Vernon James, Hurdles and Jumps Coach Makenzie Carr, and Throws Coach Erasmo De La Cruz for helping with all of the heavy lifting of equipment before the meet, and for their outstanding coaching during the meet.
The Team would also like to thank Northside Alumni Parent Craig Williams, and Northside Parent Jonathan Weatherly for helping set up hurdles, and raking the Long Jump Pit.
The Team would also like to thank Victor Bautista and Northside Parent Marc Rosen for taking photos of the 2015 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
The Team would also like to thank Northside Parent Nancy Lowenthal for providing bottled water for the Eric Nelson Classic.
The Team would also like to thank Northside Volunteer Coach Jose Nebrida for providing Bananas for the Eric Nelson Classic.
The Team would also like to thank North Park University Head Coach Geoff Masanet, and staff for providing Northside with all of the Track & Field Equipment for the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
The Team would also like to thank Vera Onate and the Chicago Park District for all of their help in preparation for the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
The Team would also like to thank Northside Athletic Director Andrew Mayer for all of his help in preparation and meet management for the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
The Team would also like to thank IHSA Officials Steve Battle and Bernie Lewis for officiating Long Jump and Triple Jump.
Northside would also like to thank IHSA Official Mike Powers for serving as the Starter for the 2015 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic. Mike Powers was also the starter for the Indoor State Championships in Bloomington, Illinois.
Northside would also like to thank IHSA Official Michael Hester for serving as Assistant Starter.
Northside would also like to thank Clark Jillson of AccuRace Timing Services. The meet was finished in record time thanks to the tremendous efforts of Clark Jillson. Clark Jillson also published the official results immediately after each event was finished on the wall next to the concession stand. Team scores were also provided after each event.
AccuRace Timing is also the official timer for the IHSA Track & Field Sectionals, William Penn University, the University of Wisconsin, IIlinois State, Marquette University, Ashford University, University of Dubuque, Grand View University, North Central, Knox College, and Macalester College.
Last, the Northside Coaching Staff would like to thank all of the Northside athletes. Hours after the meet ended, Northside athletes stayed at River Park Track putting away the High Jump Pit, covering the Long Jump pit, covering the Triple Jump Put, and putting all of the Hurdles away. Thanks again.
The meet was scored on the following scale for individual events and relays: 10-8-6-4-2-1.
After 15 events, Northside was trailing Chicago Leo (2012 IHSA State Track & Field Champions) by a score of 157 to 161. Northside needed to win the 4x400m Relay, and have one Team finish ahead of Chicago Leo for the meet to end in a first place tie! Northside needed to win the 4x400m Relay, and have two Teams finish ahead of Chicago Leo in the 4x400m relay to win the meet, without a first place tie. Northside was fortunate to get help from Von Steuben in the 4x400m Relay.
Northside (Steven Kataba, Sergio Soto, Danny Rosen, Tom Frejowski) WON the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 3:42.69. Von Steuben finished in second place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 3:54.04. Chicago Leo finished in third place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 3:56.68. Chicago Bulls finished in fourth place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 4:01.55. Roosevelt finished in fifth place in the 4x400m Relay with an official time of 5:15.10.
Northside and Chicago Leo tied for FIRST PLACE with a score of 167 points, and posted victories over: 3. Von Steuben (74 points), 4. Chicago Bulls (32 points), 5. Roosevelt (27 points), and 6. Ogden (23 points).
Congratulations to Hall of Fame Coach Ed Adams and the Chicago Leo Lions, and the Chicago Northside Mustangs for finishing in a FIRST PLACE tie with 167 points!! It was the most exciting finish in the history of the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
