Announcement
Osazee Osaghae runs a PERSONAL BEST time of 10.97 at the IHSA State Championships! Alex Ortiz BREAKS Steeplechase School Record!
On Thursday, May 25, 2017, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, and Sprints Coach David Diaz, traveled to Matteson, Illinois for dinner with IHSA State Qualifier Osazee Osaghae and Northside Seniors Kyle Friedler and Alex Ortiz.
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon treated his coaching staff, Sophomore Osazee Osaghae and Seniors Kyle Friedler and Alex Ortiz to Dinner at Olive Garden, in Matteson, Illinois.
On the eve of the IHSA State Championships, Northside was celebrating a season in which they had 21 athletes earn a Plaque by breaking a school record, and that number would reach 22 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.
Northside Sophomore Osazee Osaghae has qualified for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships for two years in a row in the 100m Dash.
At Eastern Illinois University, the Mustangs stayed in an "Olympic Village" atmosphere with State Qualifiers from across the State. Northside stayed in Lincoln Hall, which was located less than a block from the stadium. Lincoln Hall was complete with a Big Screen Television, Air Hockey Tables, and Pool tables.
On Friday, May 26, 2017, upon arrival to O'Brien Stadium, Osazee Osaghae was given a State Qualifier Pin from the IHSA, along with his race number.
As the athletes began warm-ups for the 100m 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 2017 IHSA State Championships was an incredible experience for Northside Sophomore Osazee Osaghae and Seniors Kyle Friedler and Alex Ortiz.
In the 100m Dash, Northside Sophomore Osazee Osaghae ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 10.97. Osazee Osaghae will also be the top returning sprinter to the State meet in 2018.
After the IHSA Prelims reached a conclusion, the Northside Track & Field Coaching Staff, and athletes traveled from O'Brien Stadium for their pre-race meal for the Open races.
After Dinner, Athletes from around the State, including collegiate athletes, prepared for Open races under the lights at O'Brien Stadium.
At 7:00 pm, the Open races commenced, under the Lights, at O'Brien Stadium. Northside was greeted at the open races by Northside Distance Coach Michael Giberson.
In the 100m Dash, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon raced an athlete wearing a Ketchup bottle costume, to finish in 71st place with an official time of 18.78.
In the 800m run, the field featured 37 athletes. Northside Senior Alex Ortiz finished in seventh place overall with an outstanding time of 2:03.48.
In the 3200m run, the field featured 19 athletes, Northside Senior Kyle Friedler finished in SECOND place with an outstanding time of 9:37.23.
In the 1000m Steeplechase, the field featured 98 athletes, Northside Senior Alex Ortiz BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD (3:04.95) with an official time of 3:04.35. The previous record was 3:04.95, and was held by future NCAA All American and Alumni legend Danny Rosen. Alex Ortiz will be honored with a plaque at the Northside Track & Field Banquet on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the East Bank Club. Northside had 22 athletes break a school record in 2017! Northside Senior Kyle Friedler raced in the 1000m Steeplechase right after finishing the 3200m!
After the Steeplechase, the TEAM and coaching staff drove from O'Brien Stadium, into town for Pizza, and stayed up all night talking to opposing coaches and athletes in the "Olympic style" village at Lincoln Hall. It was an outstanding experience.
