CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Saturday, May 9, 2015, the Northside Varsity Men and Sophomore Boys traveled to Hanson Stadium for the Chicago Public League Track & Field Championships.

 In order to reach the CPS Finals, athletes had to make it into the initial Field size of the Top 32 athletes in Chicago at a "Seed" Meeting, and then qualify at their respective Prelims (May 2 for Sophomores, and May 6 for Varsity) as one of the Top 8 athletes in Chicago for Sprints and Hurdles events, and as one of the Top 12 athletes in Chicago for Distance and Field Events to reach the CPS Finals.

 At the CPS Finals, athletes that finish in the Top 8 earn All City Honors and Medals.

 In the Sophomore 3200m run, Northside Sophomore Kyle Friedler finished in THIRD place with a personal best time of 10:09.13. Kyle Friedler ran the first mile in 4:57, and then ran the final mile in 5:12 for a personal best time of 10:09.13. Kyle Friedler was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in third place in Chicago. Kyle Friedler also passed Alumni legend Patrick Brennan on the Northside 3200m All Time list with a PERSONAL BEST time of 10:09.13. It was also the fastest 3200m run time ever run by a Northside Sophomore athlete!!  

 At the 2014 CPS Sophomore 3200m Finals, Kyle Friedler ran an official time of 11:02.64. From 2014 (Freshman year) to 2015 (Sophomore year), Kyle Friedler dropped 53 seconds for a personal best time of 10:09.13.

 Kyle Friedler also helped break the Northside school record in the 4x1600m Relay at Spartan Relays on May 1 with a 4:42.17 1600m.

 Kyle Friedler has won the 3200m run at multiple meets during the 2015 season, and will be a tremendous asset to the Chicago Northside Varsity at the IHSA Sectional Championships on May 22.

 Northside Sophomore Alex Ortiz had been looking forward to the CPS Sophomore Championships. He has dropped over 51 seconds from Freshman to Sophomore year in the 1600m run with a personal record of 4:46. At the Spartan Classic, Ortiz ran a 3200m personal best time of 10:17.

 On Thursday night, he had a 101 degree fever, and there was not much improvement on Friday morning. The Chicago Northside Mustangs were not going to have the benefit of one of the greatest Sophomore athletes in Northside history for the CPS Sophomore Finals. However, the meet was canceled on Friday night after 1.5 hours Thunderstorm delay. The cancelation helped Northside, because it gave Ortiz another day to recover from the fever. On Saturday morning, Alex Ortiz was still not 100%, but was willing to give it a try for the TEAM.

 Alex Ortiz showed incredible mental toughness, and pure guts, by running the first mile in 5:10, and then ran the final mile in 5:29 to finish in fifth place with an official time of 10:39.43. Alex Ortiz earned All City Honors and was awarded a Medal.

 After the 3200m run, the Northside coaching staff immediately scratched Alex Ortiz from the 1600m due to illness. He raced in the 3200m run on pure guts, and mental toughness, and was not feeling his best. Northside is hopeful that he will be fully recovered from his illness by Monday. Alex Ortiz has won the 1600m at multiple meets during the 2015 season, and anchored the Northside 4x800m to victory on several occassions. Alex Ortiz will be a tremendous asset to the Chicago Northside Varsity at the IHSA Sectional Championships on May 22.

 In the Sophomore High Jump, Northside Sophomore Jacob Cosby finished in sixth place with a leap of 5'2.

 In the Sophomore Shot Put, Northside Sophomore Jacob Cosby finished in sixth place with an outstanding throw of 38'04.

 In the Varsity Long Jump, Northside Senior Porter Abbey finished in 11th place with a jump of 18'08.00.

 In the Varsity Triple Jump, Northside Senior Matt Osborne finished in ninth place with a PERSONAL BEST jump of 40'00.50.

 In the Sophomore 4x800m Relay, Northside Sophomore Josh Borgwardt ran the first 400m in 63 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 73 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:16.93, and made a nice exchange to Arjuna Lemke. Northside Sophomore Arjuna Lemke ran the first 400m in 69 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 79 seconds for an 800m split of 2:28.24, and made a good exchange to Kyle Lowenthal. Northside Freshman Kyle Lowenthal missed practices caught up with him on Saturday. Kyle Lowenthal ran the first 400m in 75 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 80 seconds for an 800m split of 2:35.00, and made an exchange to Brian McManus. Northside Sophomore Brian McManus anchored Northside to eight place by running the first 400m in 67 seconds, and then McManus ran the final 400m in 78 seconds for an 800m split of 2:25.76, for an official time of 9:45.36.

 In the Varsity 4x800m Relay, Northside Senior Max McCoy ran the first 400m in 61 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 70 seconds for an 800m split of 2:11.38, and made a perfect exchange to Philip Wdowiak. Northside Junior Philip Wdowiak ran the first 400m in 65 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 67 seconds for an 800m split of 2:12.02, and made a nice exchange to Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman. Northside Senior Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman ran the first 400m in 62 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 75 seconds for a personal best 800m split of 2:17.35, and made a good exchange to Troy Hu. Northside Junior Troy Hu ran the first 400m in 64 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 72 seconds for an 800m split of 2:16.15 for an official time of 8:55.00. 

 In the Varsity 110m Hurdles, Northside Junior Justin Washington tied Lane Tech Hurdle phenom Senior Alex Pincsak for SIXTH place with a PERSONAL BEST time of 16.31. Northside and Lane Tech were both awarded 2.50 points for the tie for sixth place. Washington will be awarded a MEDAL for finishing in sixth place overall. Northside Junior Garret Barch finished in eighth place to complete the scoring, and earned All City Honors with an outstanding time of 16.35. Garret Barch was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in eighth place overall.