CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 In the 4x100m Relay, Northside Sophomore Steven Kataba, Sophomore Troy Hu, Freshman Brandon Banas, and Sophomore Philip Wdowiak combined to finish in 11th place with an official time of 47.68.

 A year ago (2013), Northside Junior Malcolm Grba ran an official time of 2:07.85 at IHSA Sectionals in the 800m run. The following week, Malcolm Grba ran a 2:04.93 in the 800m run at the IHSA State Track & Field Championships.

 The entrance way to the Olympic Training Center in Marquette, Michigan has a large sign, that reads "Winning isn't everything...Wanting to is..."

 Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon was fortunate to coach former Florida High School State 800m run Champion Patrick Weaver at St.Johns in Orange Park, Flordia. Weaver ran a 1:52 800m to win the State Title in Florida. A typical regular season high school meet for Weaver was a 1:59 800m split in the 4x800m Relay, and then he ran a 1:56 800m in the open 800m run, and then he ran a 51.00 400m split in the 4x400m relay. Gordon was also fortunate to coach All American Patrick Sullivan at the University of Chicago in the 1500m. Sullivan was incredible, and it took a future Olympian, Nick Symmonds, to beat him for the National Title in the 1500m run. Gordon was also fortunate to coach a Distance Medley Relay that earned All American Honors for the University of Chicago. All of the above were unbelievable athletes in both work ethic, determination, and mental toughness. However, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon has seen only one athlete that has exceeded all of the above in work ethic, and mental toughness, and that athlete is Northside Captain Malcolm Grba.

 Malcolm Grba has the speed of a sprinter, the strength of a thrower, and the endurance of a distance runner. He is the most fit athlete on the Northside Track Team. A typical Malcolm Grba practice lasts from 4 pm - 7 pm. Grba always wants to do more, and train harder. In addition to holding the school record for the 4x800m Relay, Malcolm Grba also holds the school record for pull-ups with 41. He trains year round, and has great communication skills. The Northside Coaching Staff is always well informed about his off-season training, including his weekly mileage totals. He has also revolutionized the Northside warm-up, core, and stretching routine. He is also a great leader and a great Team captain for the Northside Track Team.

 After an outstanding baseball career, Malcolm Grba joined the Northside Track Team during his Sophomore year of high school, and had an immediate impact. Grba is only in his second year of the sport of Track & Field. 

 In 2013, he qualified for the Class 2A State Track & Field Championships, in a record four events, including the 4x800m Relay, 800m, 1600m, and 4x400m Relay. He also helped Northside Win their first Sophomore Chicago Public League Title in Track, and first IHSA Sectional Title in Track.

From 2013 to 2014, he has improved in the 800m run from a 2:04.93 to a personal best 800m time of 2:00.52. In the 1600m run, he has improved from a 4:44.68 to a personal best 1600m time of 4:36.10.

 In 2014, Malcolm Grba qualified for the Class 3A Indoor State Championships, in two events, the 4x800m Relay and the 800m run. Grba competed in the 800m run, and reached the Medal stand at Illinois Prep Top Times (Indoor State). Malcolm Grba also won the individual indoor city title in the 800m run, and helped his teammates to the 4x400m Relay Indoor city title. Malcolm Grba also helped Northside win numerous track meets, including and CPS Indoor Championships.

 In 2014, Malcolm Grba WON the 800m run FIVE times, he WON the 1600m run THREE times, and helped his TEAM to VICTORIES in the 4x800m Relay and 4x400m Relay SIX times! Malcolm Grba is a winner. 

 Malcolm Grba also scored the Most Varsity points by a Northside Junior Athlete in 2014. It is the second year in a row that he has led the Junior class in scoring. Malcolm Grba was also second on the entire Team in scoring Varsity points. Malcolm Grba will be honored with a Varsity points trophy, among other honors, at the June 6, 2014 Track & Field Banquet at the East Bank Club.

 To fully appreciate Malcolm Grba's performance in the 800m run at IHSA Sectionals (2014), you had to witness it. It was more than just running faster than his previous years sectional time. At IHSA Sectionals, he went from a 2:07.85 (2013 IHSA Sectional) to a 2:07.12 (2014 IHSA Sectional). Malcolm Grba could have played it safe, and went for just a personal best time, and a Medal. However, he went for it, and ran with the attitude and determination to win it. He ran a pure guts race, and went through 400m in 57 seconds, and held the lead for 500m, before he was passed. It was an outstanding effort and performance. Malcolm Grba has a big future in Track, at both the high school level and collegiate level.

 At the 2014 IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Senior Simon Kafka ran an outstanding time of 2:02.65.

 In 2011, as a high school Freshman, Simon Kafka competed in Indoor Track, and had personal best times of 61.49 for the 400m, and 2:20.45 for the 800m run. At the conclusion of the Indoor season, he competed in Water Polo. Kafka was a Junior Olympian in the sport of Water Polo, an excellent swimmer, and is a certified lifeguard.

 In 2013, as a high school Junior, Simon Kafka left the Water Polo Team, and made the commitment to both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field. Simon Kafka had an immediate impact for the Northside Track & Field Team. He was always willing to do anything for the Team, including score points for his teammates in the High Jump. Simon Kafka helped the Mustangs WIN their first IHSA Sectional Track & Field Team Title by qualifying for the IHSA State Championships in two events, the 4x800m Relay and the 4x400m Relay. Simon Kafka also helped Northside break two school records. First, he ran the 400m leg of the Middle Distance Medley Relay to help break the school record at the Glenbrook North Spartan Relays. Second, Simon Kafka anchored the Mustangs 4x800m Relay to a school record at the IHSA State Championships to advance to the State finals! 

 From 2011 (Freshman Year) to 2013 (Junior Year), Simon Kafka went from a 2:20.45 800m to a 2:07.30 in the open 800m. A time drop of 13 seconds!

 From 2013 (Junior Year) to 2014 (Senior Year), Simon Kafka improved dramatically in strength and speed. Simon Kafka went from a 2:07.30 800m to a 2:00.32 in the open 800m. A time drop of 7 seconds in the open 800m run during his Senior Year! Simon Kafka ran the third fastest 800m run time (2:00.32) in the history of Northside!! Simon Kafka also earned All City Honors and a MEDAL in the 800m run at the outdoor City Championships.

 In the 1600m run, Simon Kafka went from a 4:54.20 (Junior Year) to a personal best time of 4:45.55 (Senior Year).

 Simon Kafka was also Captain of the Northside Cross Country Team for three years, and ran a 3 miles personal record of 16:03 during his Senior year.

 Equally impressive, Simon Kafka has improved from a 61.49 400m (Freshman Year) to a 51.92 400m split, in his final race for the Mustangs at the IHSA Sectional Championships in the 4x400m Relay. A time drop of almost ten seconds from Freshman to Senior Year in the 400m!

 During the 2014 Track & Field season, among other highlights, Simon Kafka anchored Northside to victory in the 4x800m Relay at the Indoor City Championships, and also helped Northside upset Whitney Young in the 4x400m Relay for the Indoor City Title! Simon Kafka also qualified for the Class 3A Indoor State Championships (Illinois Prep Top Times) in the 4x800m Relay. He ran the most impressive leg of the 4x800m Relay at the Indoor State Championships with a 2:01.59 800m split.

 Among other honors, Simon Kafka helped Northside Win the 4x800m Relay at the Indoor Spartan Classic, the St. Viator Inviational, and the Highland Park Twilight Invitational.

 Simon Kafka also has great leadership skills. He helped improve Team culture by coming up with the idea for a game of Ultimate Frisbee during a stressful week of training. He always stepped up to handle every leadership opportunity presented, and looked out for his teammates in the process. Simon Kafka holds multiple school records, and is one of the greatest athletes to ever wear the uniform.

 Simon Kafka will be competing in college in both Cross Country and Track for Beloit College in the NCAA Midwest Conference. The Northside Coaching Staff is looking forward to his continued success on the collegiate level. He will be a tremendous asset to the Beloit College Cross Country and Track Teams.

 In the 4x200m Relay, Northside WON their heat, and finished in ninth place overall with an outstanding time of 1:37.95. Northside Freshman Brandon Banas ran a 24.71 200m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Garret Barch. Garret Barch ran a 24.59 200m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a good exchange to Sophomore Philip Wdowiak. Philip Wdowiak ran a 24.36 200m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a perfect exchange to Junior Gabriel Jiminez-Ekhman. Gabriel Jiminez-Ekhman anchored the Mustangs to first place in their heat with an impressive 23.81 200m split for an official time of 1:37.95. It was the fastest 4x200m Relay of the season.

 In the 400m Dash, Northside Sophomore Steven Kataba ran an outstanding time of 56.41.

 In the 300m Hurdles, Northside Senior Lucien Fitzpatrick, and Junior Matt Osborne scratched.

 In the 1600m run, Northside Junior Max McCoy ran the first 400m in 69 seconds, and then ran the next 400m in 78 seconds for an 800m split of 2:27, and then ran the next 400m in a NEGATIVE split of 77 seconds for a 1200m split of 3:46, and then ran the final 400m in ANOTHER NEGATIVE split of 74 seconds for an outstanding time of 5:00.53.

 In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Junior Malcolm Grba ran the first leg of the relay in a 54.49 400m split, and then made a perfect exchange to Senior Simon Kafka. Simon Kafka ran the second leg of the relay in a PERSONAL BEST 400m split of 51.92, and then made a nice exchange to Sophomore Danny Rosen. Danny Rosen ran the third leg of the relay in a 55.97 400m split, and then made a perfect exchange to Junior Tom Frejowski. Tom Frejowski anchored the Mustangs to fifth place in the IHSA Sectional with a 54.87 400m split for an official time of 3:37.93. Malcolm Grba, Simon Kafka, Danny Rosen, and Tom Frejowski earned ALL SECTIONAL HONORS and were awarded MEDALS for finishing in fifth place overall.