CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Saturday, April 23, 2016, the Chicago Northside Track & Field TEAM traveled to Lake Forest, Illinois for the 52nd Annual Lake Forest High School Track & Field Invitational.

 Lake Forest was excellent hosts. Northside contributed to the meet by helping officiate exchange zones, and Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon officiated the Discus competition.

 The meet featured an 8 lane Mondo Track and the bleachers were filled to their capacity.

 The Lake Forest Invitational featured 8 Teams, including Grayslake North, Lake Forest, Larkin, Mundelein, Northside College Prep, Riverside Brookfield, Southland College Prep, and Zion Benton.

 Medals were awarded for the top 6 places in the Varsity division.

 Ribbons were awarded for the top 6 places in the Sophomore division.

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

 Lake Forest won the Varsity division with 157 points. Zion-Benton finished in second place with 125 points. Mundelein finished in third place with 71 points. Riverside Brookfield finished in fourth place with 68 points.

 Chicago Northside finished in fifth place in the Varsity division with 62 points, and posted victories over: 6. Grayslake North (44 points), 7. Elgin Larkin (16 points), and 8. Southland College Prep (6 points).

 In the Varsity Discus, Northside Junior Christian Guerrero finished in 13th place with a throw of 72'05.

 In the Varsity Long Jump, Northside Senior Steven Kataba finished in 13th place with a jump of 16'4.

 In the Varsity Triple Jump, Northside Junior Brandon Banas finished in 11th place with a jump of 33'1.50.

 In the Sophomore 4x800m Relay, On the first leg of the relay, Northside Freshman Norberto Nieves ran the first 400m in 70 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 78 seconds for an 800m split of 2:28.16, and made a good exchange to Kyle Lowenthal. Northside Sophomore Kyle Lowenthal ran the first 400m in 70 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 84 seconds for an 800m split of 2:34.42, and made a nice exchange to Mason Sotomayor. Northside Sophomore Mason Sotomayor ran the first 400m in 75 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 79 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST 800m split of 2:34.63, and made a perfect exchange to Kris Ushijima. Northside Freshman Kris Ushijima ran the first 400m in 76 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 88 seconds for an 800m split of 2:44.46 to anchor the Mustangs to sixth place with an official time of 10:22.05. Norberto Nieves, Kyle Lowenthal, Mason Sotomayor, and Kris Ushijima received RIBBONS for finishing in sixth place overall.

 In the Varsity 4x800m Relay, On the first leg of the relay, Northside Senior Philip Wdowiak ran the first 400m in 61 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 67 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST 800m split of 2:08.28. Wdowiak dropped 6 seconds (2:14.10) from the Spartan Classic! On the second leg of the relay, Northside Junior Sergio Soto ran the first 400m in 64 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 73 seconds for an 800m split of 2:17.95. On the third leg of the relay, Northside Junior Jay Borgwardt ran the first 400m in 65 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 70 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST 800m split of 2:15.94. Northside Junior Brian McManus anchored the Mustangs to fifth place by running the first 400m in 65 seconds, and then ran the final 400m in 70 seconds for an 800m split of 2:15.48 for an official time of 8:58.27. Philip Wdowiak, Sergio Soto, Jay Borgwardt, and Brian McManus were awarded MEDALS for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the Sophomore 4x100m Relay, Northside Sophomore Nicholas Brown ran a 11.79 100m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Sophomore Mason Sotomayor ran a 12.58 100m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Freshman Norberto Nieves ran a 12.81 100m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Freshman Osazee Osaghae anchored Northside to fifth place by passing one Team with an impressive 11.34 100m split for an official time of 49.29. Nicholas Brown, Mason Sotomayor, Norberto Nieves, and Osazee Osaghae were awarded RIBBONS for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the Varsity 4x100m Relay, Northside Junior Vladimir Andrade did not show up to the meet, so the relay had to be scratched.

 In the Sophomore 3200m, Northside Freshman Ian Shimandle ran the first mile in 6:38, and then ran the final mile in a NEGATIVE split of 6:33 for a PERSONAL BEST time of 13:11.88.

 In the Varsity 3200m, Northside Junior Alex Ortiz ran the first mile in 5:01, and then ran the final mile in 5:10 to finish in fourth place with a PERSONAL BEST time of 10:11.75. Alex Ortiz dropped 28 seconds (10:39.73) from the 3200m run at the Eric Nelson Classic! Alex Ortiz passed former mentor Patrick O'Connor (10:16), and Alumni legend Simon Kafka (10:14) for the ninth fastest 3200m time in Northside history! Alex Ortiz ran an awesome race! Alex Ortiz was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in fourth place overall. Northside Junior Arjuna Lemke ran the first mile in 5:34, and then ran the final mile in 6:00 for a PERSONAL BEST time of 11:34.52. Arjuna Lemke dropped 26 seconds (12:00.50) from the Spartan Classic!

 In the Sophomore 110m Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Elias Decker did not show up to the meet, and was scratched.

 In the Varsity 110m Hurdles, Northside Senior Garret Barch finished in second place with an official time of 15.37. Garret Barch was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in second place overall. Northside Senior Justin Washington finished in fifth place overall with an outstanding time of 16.46. Justin Washington was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the Sophomore 100m Dash, Northside Freshman Osazee Osaghae WON it with a PERSONAL BEST time of 11.71. It was the fastest FAT time by a Northside athlete this season. Osazee Osaghae dropped 0.38 (12.09) of a second with a personal best time of 11.71. Osazee Osaghae was awarded a blue RIBBON for winning the 100m dash! 

 In the Varsity 100m Dash, Northside Junior Brandon Banas dropped 0.11 (12.49) of a second to finish in tenth place with an outstanding time of 12.38.

 In the Sophomore 800m run, Northside Sophomore Kyle Lowenthal finished in ninth place with an official time of 2:33.49.

 In the Varsity 800m run, Northside Junior Brian McManus finished in ninth place with an official time of 2:19.48.

 In the Sophomore 4x200m Relay, Northside Sophomore Nicholas Brown ran an impressive 23.62 200m split on the first leg of the relay. Northside Sophomore Mason Sotomayor ran an outstanding 27.39 200m split on the second leg of the relay. Northside Freshman Norberto Nieves ran an impressive 25.50 200m split on the third leg of the relay. Northside Freshman Osazee Osaghae anchored the Mustangs to fourth place with an outstanding 25.10 200m split for an official time of 1:42.27. Nicholas Brown, Mason Sotomayor, Norberto Nieves, and Osazee Osaghae were awarded RIBBONS for finishing in fourth place overall.

 In the Varsity 4x200m Relay, FOUR SENIORS are on a MISSION to STATE, and are closing in on the school record (1:33.14). Northside Senior Steven Kataba ran the first leg of the relay with a 25.02 200m split, and made a nice exchange to Garret Barch. Northside Senior Garret Barch ran an impressive 22.18 200m split, and made a nice exchange to Justin Washington. Northside Senior Justin Washington ran a 23.47 200m split, and made a perfect exchange to Philip Wdowiak. Northside Senior Philip Wdowiak anchored the Mustangs to THIRD place with an impressive 23.19 200m split for an official time of 1:33.50. Steven Kataba, Garret Barch, Justin Washington, and Philip Wdowiak were awarded MEDAL for finishing in third place overall.

 In the Varsity 400m dash, Northside Senior Keith Jones won his heat, and finished in fifth place overall with an outstanding time of 54.12. Keith Jones was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in fifth place overall. Northside Junior Jay Borgwardt finished in tenth place overall with an official time of 58.17.

 Prior to Saturday, the 300m Hurdles school record was held by Alumni legend Lucien Fitzpatrick (2013 IHSA Track & Field State Championships, 41.97).

 In the Varsity 300m Hurdles, Northside Senior Garret Barch and Senior Justin Washington both BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD on the SAME day by placing FIRST (40.41) and SECOND (41.35) at the Lake Forest Scouts Invitational. Northside Senior Garret Barch WON the 300m Hurdles with a NEW SCHOOL RECORD and PERSONAL BEST time of 40.41. Garret Barch was awarded a MEDAL for winning the 300m Hurdles! Northside Senior Justin Washington finished in second place in the 300m Hurdles with a PERSONAL BEST time of 41.35. Justin Washington was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in second place overall. Watermelons will be awarded to both Garret Barch and Justin Washington, and Northside Hurdles Coach Makenzie Carr in honor of two athletes breaking the school record on the same day!! Northside scored 18 points in the 300m Hurdles!!

 The BENCH MARK for elite High School milers is the FIVE MINUTE BARRIER. 

 In the Sophomore Mile (1609m), Northside Sophomore Jacob Yosowitz ran the first 400m in 75 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 76 seconds (2:31 800m), and then ran the next 400m in a NEGATIVE split of 74 seconds (3:45 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in an EVEN split of 74 seconds to BREAK THE FIVE MINUTE BARRIER and finish in fourth place with a personal best time of 4:59.69. Jacob Yosowitz ran a pure guts race, and ran the first 800m in 2:31, and the final 800m in a NEGATIVE split of 2:28 for a personal best time of 4:59.69. Jacob Yosowitz dropped ten seconds (5:09) from the Spartan Classic for a personal best time of 4:59.69! Jacob Yosowitz was awarded a RIBBON for finishing in fourth place overall. Northside Freshman Kristopher Ushijima finished in 11th place with an outstanding time of 5:36.09.

 In the Varsity Mile (1609m), Northside Captain Kyle Friedler returned from training in Europe (France) for only his second appearance at an outdoor track meet this season. Northside Junior Kyle Friedler ran the first 400m in 66 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 70 seconds (2:16 800m), and then ran the next 400m in 71 seconds (3:27 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in 74 seconds to finish in SECOND place with an outstanding time of 4:41.20. Kyle Friedler was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in second place overall. Northside Captain Alex Ortiz ran the first 400m in 69 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 73 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 76 seconds (3:38 1200m), and then ran the final 400m in a NEGATIVE split of 71 seconds to finish in FIFTH place with an outstanding time of 4:49.95. Alex Ortiz was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in fifth place overall.

 In the Sophomore 200m Dash, Northside Sophomore Nicholas Brown finished in SECOND place with an outstanding time of 24.34. Nicholas Brown was awarded a RIBBON for finishing in second place overall.

 In the Varsity 200m Dash, Northside Senior Keith Jones finished in fourth place overall with an official time of 23.23. Keith Jones was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in fourth place overall. Keith Jones had an outstanding meet with great performances in both the 400m and 200m. Northside Junior Jay Borgwardt finished in 11th place with an outstanding time of 25.62. Borgwardt had an incredible day with outstanding performances in the 4x800m, 400m, and 200m. 

 In the Sophomore 4x400m Relay, Northside Sophomore phenom Jacob Yosowitz ran the first leg of the relay with an impressive 57.32 400m split, and made a perfect exchange to Norberto Nieves. Northside Freshman Norberto Nieves ran an outstanding 64.25 400m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a good exchange to Mason Sotomayor. Northside Sophomore Mason Sotomayor ran an impressive 63.71 400m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Kris Ushijima. Northside Freshman Kris Ushijima ran a 72.44 400m split to anchor the Mustangs to seventh place with an official time of 4:17.97.

 In the Varsity 4x400m Relay, it was an outstanding 4x400m Relay. On the first leg of the relay, Northside Senior Steven Kataba ran a 54.47 400m split to put the Mustangs in position for a Medal, and made a great exchange to Justin Washington. Northside Senior Justin Washington ran a personal best 400m split of 52.94, and made a nice exchange to Garret Barch. Northside Senior Garret Barch ran a personal best 400m split of 53.10, and made a perfect exchange to Philip Wdowiak. Northside Senior Philip Wdowiak anchored Northside to THIRD place with an impressive 53.92 400m split for an official time of 3:35.38. Steven Kataba, Justin Washington, Garret Barch, and Philip Wdowiak were awarded MEDALS for finishing in third place overall. It was the fastest 4x400m Relay of the season!