CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

Sam Vazquez was the All-Time fastest High School miler in the State of Florida (4:03), 6 individual State Titles, 2003 Addidas High School National Champion in the mile, NCAA All American in the Middle Distance Relay, Member of the 2003 NCAA National Outdoor Championship Team (University of Arkanas), 7 times NAIA All-American in Track and Cross Country (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), 2011 Indoor 1000m National Champion, Puerto Rican National Record Holder (1500m), and has the followings PRs for the 400m (47.32), 600m (1:19), 800m (1:48), 1000m (2:24), 1500m (3:37.60), and 8K (24:19).

Since the 2012 London Olympics, Sam Vazquez has been training for the World Championships, which will be held in Moscow, Russia in August 2013. He has several races before the World Championships, including appearances at Stanford, and the Caymen Islands, among others.

Olympic 1500m runner Sam Vazquez spent time with each event group at practice, including the distance runners, sprinters, jumpers, and throwers.

After Practice, the Northside Track & Field Team, Parents, Alumni, and guests enjoyed Pasta, fresh Corn on the Cob, Green Beans, Salad, Bread, and bottled water at the Mustangs Pasta Party on the eve of the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.

At the Pasta Party, Olympian Sam Vazquez signed his name to posters, programs, shirts, ribbons, and shoes. He also swaped stories with parents, athletes, and guests. Vazquez also showed the coaching staff and athletes his NCAA National Championship Ring.

After a brief TEAM / PARENTS Meeting, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon introduced Olympian Sam Vazquez to a capacity crowd in the Northside Cafeteria.

Sam Vazquez gave a motivational speech, and answered athletes questions about the Olympics, his weekly mileage progression from high school to college to the Olympics, weight training, racing strategy, the Olympic Village, diet, and his training.

Sam Vazquez also answered great questions about genetics, and family ancestory, and he stated that he had both, but stressed that a strong work ethic will beat talent, and named several Olympians that made it into the top 1% with their work ethic, that did not have great genetics. 

Olympian Sam Vazquez enjoyed visiting with the Team, and announced plans to come to one of the Mustangs upcoming Outdoor Track & Field Meets.

A special thanks to Olympian Sam Vazquez for providing the Northside Track & Field TEAM, parents, and guests with an incredible experience.

 On Sunday, March 24, 2013, the Northside Varsity Mens Varsity Track & Field Team traveled to Henry Crown Field House in Chicago, Illinois for the 2013 Indoor City Championships.

 Henry Crown Stadium features an athlete friendly atmosphere, upper deck seating, 200m Indoor Track and has been the host to numerous National meets, and local Championship meets as well. The Varsity letter was invented in the 1890s by Amos Alonzo Stagg as he was sitting on the entrance steps to Henry Crown Field house. Henry Crown Field house is a Chicago landmark that is rich in Track & Field history.

 The "A" division of the Varsity Indoor City Championships featured a very impressive field. Among others, Chicago North Lawndale recently won the Gene Armer Invitational in Champaign, Illinois. Mather came into the meet, after winning the University High Invitational over both Jones College Prep and Walter Payton. Simeon had won the indoor Title as recently as 2011. Perspectives Charter features Lonnie Washington, one of the best athletes in Chicago.  

 Perspectives Charter won the 2013 Indoor Chicago Public League Championships with 80 points. Perspectives Charter competed outstanding throughout the meet, and also had great sportsmanship

 Northside College Prep finished in SECOND place, with 55.50 points and posted victories over: 3. Simeon (51 points), 4. Mather (45 points), 5. Morgan Park (43 points), 6. Wendell Phillips (40 points), 7. North Lawndale (25 Points), 8. Lincoln Park (22 Points), 9. Westinghouse (21 Points), 9. Kenwood Academy (21 points), 11. Dunbar (17 points), 12. Orr Academy (8 Points), and 13. Kennedy (4 Points). 

 Northside had a record of 11-1 on the day! Northside also finished in the Top 2 for the THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR!!! 

 This was a special meet for the Mustangs, all of the Northside athletes made the most of the opportunity to compete in the 2013 Indoor City Championships.

 Team Trophies will be awarded by the CPS Sports Administration on Monday, March 25, 2013, to the Top two teams, and Medals will be awarded to the Top 3 Individuals in each event.  

 Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, treated the Northside coaching staff to Crab Legs at Angelino's on Montrose, after the meet, to celebrate the Mustangs SECOND place finish at the Indoor City Championships! It has become a Northside tradition, anytime the Mustangs finish in the top two in the Chicago Public League. A Team / Parents Pasta Party will take place after practice on Monday.

 Athletes will be awarded TEAM trophies for finishing in second place at the May 31, 2013 Track & Field Banquet.

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

 In the Long Jump, Perspectives Charter Lonnie Washington won it with a leap of 21'9. Simeon's Matt Franklin finished in second place with a jump of 20'11. Orr Academy's Carl Young finished in third place with a jump of 18'2. Morgan Park's Deante Thomas finished in fourth place with a jump of 18'1.50. Northside Sophomore Porter Abbey tied with Westinghouse's Kavon Taylor for fifth place to complete the scoring with an outstanding jump of 18'1.

 In the Triple Jump, Simeon's Jordan Reid won it after running the 4x400m relay with an impressive jump of 40'0.00. Perspectives Charter Christopher Randolph finished in second place with a jump of 39'1.50. Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in THIRD place with a jump of 37'7.50. Kenwood Academy Rhomel Fields finished in fourth place with a jump of 37'6. North Lawndale Kejuan Jefferson finished in fifth place with a jump of 37'4. Orr Academy Raheem Powell finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a jump of 37'0.

 In the High Jump, Perspectives Charter Christoper Randolph won it with a leap of 6'3. Morgan Park's Jared Rodgers finished in second place with a jump of 5'10. Northside Junior Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in THIRD place with an outstanding jump of 5'8. Simeon's Raquean Adams finished in fourth place with a jump of 5'0. Lincoln Park's Kenneth Crawford finished in fifth place with a jump of 5'0.

 In the Shot Put, Westinghouse's DeQuan Smith won it with a throw of 42'9.50. Kenwood Academy's Brandon Trebble finished in second place with a throw of 42'6. Mather's Abdul Solebo finished in third place with a throw of 41'1. North Lawndale's DeWayne Hollaway finished in fourth place with a throw of 36'10.50. Perspectives Charter Christopher Hawkins finished in fifth place with a throw of 36'3. Simeon's Chris Jones completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with a throw of 35'6.50. Northside Junior Henry Lothschutz threw a personal best 32'9.

 In the 4x800m Relay, Northside Sophomore Malcolm Grba ran the first 200m of the first leg of the relay in 32 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 33 seconds (65 400m), and then ran the next 200m in 33 seconds (1:38 600m), and then ran the final 200m in a NEGATIVE split of 30 seconds for an 800m split of 2:08.46, and made a pefect exchange to Senior Patrick Brennan. Captain Patrick Brennan opened up a lead by running the first 200m in 30 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 33 seconds (63 400m), and then ran the next 200m in 34 seconds (1:37 600m), and then ran the final 200m in a NEGATIVE split of 29 seconds for an 800m split of 2:06.70, and made a perfect exchange to Freshman Danny Rosen. Danny Rosen ran the first 200m of the third leg of the relay in 32 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 33 seconds (65 400m), and then ran the next 200m in 34 seconds (1:39 600m), and then ran the final 200m in an EVEN split of 34 seconds for a PERSONAL BEST 800m split of 2:13.47, and made a nice exchange to Junior Cesar Rufino. Cesar Rufino increased the lead by running the first 200m in 28 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 33 seconds (61 400m), and then ran the next 200m in 36 seconds (1:37 600m), and then ran the final 200m in 37 seconds to anchor the Mustangs to VICTORY with a 2:14.02 800m split for an official time of 8:42.65. Lincoln Park finished in second place with an official time of 9:27.32. Morgan Park finished in third place with an official time of 9:35.15. Perspectives Charter finished in fourth place with an official time of 10:13.30. North Lawndale finished in fifth place with an official time of 10:19.16.

NORTHSIDE 4x800m RELAY featured on Chicagoland Preps:

Malcolm Grba, Patrick Brennan, Danny Rosen, and Cesar Rufino 

 In the 4x200m Relay, North Lawndale won it with an official time of 1:32.81. Wendell Phillips finished in second place with an official time of 1:33.15. Simeon finished in third place with an official time of 1:37.41. Dunbar finished in fourth place with an official time of 1:37.55. Perspectives Charter finished in fifth place with an official time of 1:38.42. Morgan Park finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 1:38.46. Northside Sophomore Porter Abbey ran a 26.87 200m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Michael Walt. Michael Walt ran a 26.45 200m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a great exchange to Freshman Jack Svoboda. Jack Svoboda ran a 26.37 200m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Matt Osborne. Matt Osborne anchored the Mustangs past Lincoln Park (1:46.49) with a 25.78 200m split for an official time of 1:46.10.

 In the 400m Dash, Simeon's Jordan Reid won it with an official time of 53.33. Morgan Park's Brandon Riley finished in second place with an official time of 53.50. Mather's Catrell Coleson finished in third place with an impressive time of 55.11. Perspective Charter's Robert White finished in fourth place with an official time of 55.29. Wendell Phillips Kendall Morris finished in fifth place with an official time of 55.54. North Lawndale's Amari Strange finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 57.50. Northside Sophomore Max McCoy ran the first 200m in 27 seconds, and then ran the final 200m in 33 seconds for an outstanding time of 60.95.