Announcement
Former Lane Tech Athlete Don Tomaska (Uncle of Northside Freshman Josh Williams) gives amazing speech to commence 2009 Len Jareczek Relays!
On Thursday, March 26, 2009, the Northside Varsity Men and Varsity Women Track & Field Team traveled to Lane Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois for the Len Jareczek Relays.
The meet featured Mather, Whitney Young, Northside College Prep, Jones College Prep, Marshall, Lake View, Payton, Lincoln Park, Schurz, Urban Prep, Roosevelt, Southshore, and host Lane Tech.
It was the first Varsity outdoor meet of the 2009 Track season. The weather was perfect, and Lane Tech Head Coach Kris Roof, Assistant Coach Tony Jones, and staff created a wonderful atmosphere for a great meet.
Prior to the start of the meet, Lane Tech Head Coach Kris Roof honored Lane Tech legendary coach Len Jareczek in an amazing ceremony, in which Lane Tech Miler Haji presented Len Jareczek's wife and daughter with flowers, and a former Lane Tech Athlete, Don Tomaska, gave a great speech about the career of Len Jareczek. Len Jareczek lead Lane Tech to a State Cross Country Title in the 1960s, and numerous City Track titles.
Don Tomaska, Uncle of Northside Freshman Josh Williams, finished 42nd overall in the 1966 State Cross Country Championships, to help Lane Tech finish fourth overall in the State Championships. He also finished fourth overall in the Mile in the 1967 City Outdoor Track & Field Championships to his brother, Denny Tomaska, who won the Mile for Lane Tech in the 1967 City Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Denny Tomaska, and twin brother, Don Tomaska (Uncles of Northside Freshman Josh Williams) had a reunion with Lane Tech Coaching legend Len Jareczek in November 2007, just two months before he passed away. His health was failing, and over 70 former Lane Tech athletes, many from out of state, returned to Chicago to see him one last time, after nearly 40 years away. Len Jareczek received an award at the reunion for meritorious service to the City of Chicago signed by Mayor Daley.
Len Jareczek was a tough love type of guy that wasn't interested in excuses. He would work his athletes hard but fairly, and did not play favorites. He treated his athletes as young men versus children. Len Jareczek sought out used track shoes and clothing for those runners who came from poor families. He was known to give a needy family money out of his own pocket, and once provided a family with furniture he heard they needed.
Len Jareczek gave his athletes an awareness of how good they could be, what they needed to do to achieve it, but never made those decisions for them. Denny Tomaska was winless his first three years of his high school career, but Len Jareczek stayed patient with him. Denny Tomaska had the first victory of his career in the Mile, in a dual meet in the hallways of Lane Tech during Indoor Season of his Senior year. He then won his next three races in a row, and at the 1967 Outdoor CPS City qualifying meet, he won his heat in the Mile, and his brother Don, won the other heat in the mile. At the 1967 Outdoor CPS Track & Field Championships, he managed to win the mile, while his brother finished in fourth overall. All the hard work, the coach's patience and encouragement finally paid off after three years. Former Lane Tech Mile Champion, Denny Tomaska, stated that it was "The greatest single achievement without a doubt in my life. Got the great big handshake after the race from the coach, as I received the smallest treasure ever...one small 1st place bar to put on my letterman's sweater. I will never forget the experience as long as I live."
On Thursday, March 26, 2009, Lane Tech Head Coach Kris Roof and Staff hosted a meet in honor of former Lane Tech Coach Len Jareczek, that many alumni said would have made Jareczek proud.
