CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 The Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic will be the first Outdoor Track & Field Meet in Illinois for the 2012 Season. The meet will take place at Hanson Stadium on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.

Levels:             Varsity Men and Women                      (9 Entries per Event)     - scored

IHSA Officials:  Bob Geiger and Ben Ward 

Awards:           Team Trophies for the top SIX teams!

Plaque Awards (Top 6) in the High Jump to honor Northside Alumni Eric Nelson

                        Plaque Awards (Top 6) in the Triple Jump to honor Northside Alumni Maria Torres

Plaque Awards (Top 6) in the 400m run to honor Northside All State athlete Mac Melto

Medals for the Top 3 Places in ALL events! Ribbons for places 4th - 6th. 

“Goody Bags” for all participants on EVERY Team.

  Northside Parents and Alumni that are available to Volunteer from 1 pm - 6 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, to help out with the meet, please contact Northside Head Track & Field Coach Jon Gordon at Jongordon9@aol.com. Alumni legends that will be at the meet, include Patrick O'Connor. Thanks.

 On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, Northside Senior Mac Melto signed a full athletic scholarship with NCAA Division I DePaul University. 

 DePaul University is a member of the Big East Conference, and their season schedule includes the Florida State Relays, Notre Dame Invitational, Indiana Relays, University Wisconsin Badger Classic, and the famous Drake Relays.

 On February 18, 2009, Mac Melto, as a Freshman, scored his first Varsity point in the 400m dash for Northside, by placing fourth overall at the Spartan Indoor Classic with a 62.25.

 In May 2011, Mac Melto, as a Junior, ran a school record 48.78 400m run to qualify for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships! At the State Championships, Mac Melto earned All State honors in the 400m run to reach the Medal stand and help Northside post upset victories over both Palatine High School and rival Lane Tech in the State Championships! Mac Melto was co-MVP of the 2011 Northside Track & Field Team. 

 In October 2011, Mac Melto helped Northside qualify for the IHSA State Cross Country Championships. Mac Melto was co-winner of the Northside Cross Country Most Improved Award and Senior Leadership Award.  

 Mac Melto holds six school records, including the 100m dash, 200m dash, 400m dash, 4x100m Relay, 4x200m Relay, and the 4x400m Relay. A large picture in the shape of the State of Illinois, of Mac Melto, from the 2011 IHSA State Track & Field Championships is on permanent display in the Northside College Prep Trophy Case.

 On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, Northside Alumni legend Charlie Mesimore visited the Northside Mustangs at River Park Track, and inspired the TEAM, as the Northside Varsity prepares for the 2012 University High Invitational.

 Charlie Mesimore helped the Mustangs to an IHSA Regional Cross Country Title in 2008, a City Championship in 2009, a school record in the Distance Medley Relay, and another school record in the 4x800m Relay in 2011. Mesimore is also ranked as the second fastest miler in the history of Northside.  

 Charlie Mesimore currently attends Cornell college. As a college Freshman, Mesimore ran at NCAA III Cross Country Regionals last November.

 Mesimore was in Chicago for only one day for a job interview, and after visiting the Mustangs, returned to Cornell.

 On Saturday, February 24, 2012, Northside Alumni legend Charlie Mesimore ran a season best 4:38.59 Mile for the Cornell Rams at the Indoor Conference Championships in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

 The Northside Track Team has been working hard in preparation for this meet. Northside Distance runners ran 1200m repeats and Spivey 400ms on the Track this week. They also ran all the way from Northside to the lakefront, and then ran up Berwyn street to Legion Park, before returning to Northside for weight training. New additions from the Sophomore basketball team and swim team had impressive workouts in their first week with the Northside distance squad.

 The Northside Sprinters have also been working hard in the hallways, weight room, and even ran on the track in the cold rain on Wednesday in preparation for the University High Invitational. Northside Sprints Coach Mark Morgan has this event group looking fantastic. 

 The Northside Jumpers and hurdlers have been training for long hours in the hallways, weight room, and having been using the High Jump Pit in the school atriums, and the hurdles in the hallways. This event group has been amazing under Northside Hurdles and Jumps Coach Ed Wallace. David Diaz is also having a huge impact for the Northside jumpers.   

 The Northside throwers have been using the outdoor throwing cages, and have also been working hard in the weight room. Northside throws coach Charles Milbert has the Mustang throwers at new personal records every meet. 

 The Northside Track Team is ready for the challenge ahead of them at the University High Invitational. 

 The University High Invitational will take place at Henry Crown Field house at the University of Chicago, on Friday, March 2, 2012, at 5550 South University Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

 Henry Crown Field house features an athlete friendly atmosphere, upper deck seating, 200m Indoor Track and has been host to numerous National meets, and local Championship meets as well. The Varsity letter was invented in the 1890s by University of Chicago Track Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg as he was sitting on the entrance steps to Henry Crown Field house. The main wall of the stadium contains a list of field house records, which include several Olympians. The first Heisman Trophy winner (1935), Jay Berwanger is still listed on the all-time list for Henry Crown for the 55m Dash. Henry Crown Field house is a Chicago landmark that is rich in Track & Field history.

  In 2010, Henry Crown was resurfaced with G-Flex surfacing. Outside of Europe, Henry Crown Stadium is the only Track in the United States with G-Flex surfacing. G-Flex Tracks are designed and built to the demands of the world's top athletes. Henry Crown is the best indoor track in Illinois. The CPS Indoor Championships will also be held on the G-Flex Track at Henry Crown Stadium on Sunday, March 18, 2012.

ORDER OF EVENTS

Long Jump

Triple Jump

4x800m Relay (7:00 pm)

4x200m Relay (7:25 pm)

3200m Run (8:00 pm)

55m High Hurdles (8:30 pm)

55m Dash (9:00 pm)

800m run (9:20 pm)

400m run (9:35 pm)

1600m run (9:55 pm)

200m dash (10:00 pm)

4x400m relay (10:30 pm) 

 There is no Shot Put or High Jump at the University High Invitational. Northside Throwers will have a special competition at Northside at 4 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012. Pineapples will be awarded for the farthest Shot Put, and the athlete that has improved the most.

 On Saturday, March 3, 2012, Northside High Jumpers will attend a special clinic from 8 am - 10 am in the Northside Gymnasium with Northside Alumni legend Eric Nelson. The High Jump pit will be placed on the Gym floor. 

 On Friday, March 2, 2012, two buses will leave Northside College Prep at 5:00 pm for the University High Invitational.

 On Saturday, February 4, 2012, at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Northside Alumni legend Wesley Laytham ran his first collegiate 800m, for NCAA Division I Davidson, with an outstanding time of 2:00.29. 

 On Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at Manhattan College in Riversdale, New York, Northside Alumni legend John Byrne got his first collegiate victory for NCAA Division I Fordham in the 400m run with a 52.60.

 On Saturday, February 11, 2012, Northside Alumni legend Wesley Laytham had a big day at the Fast Track College Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wesley Laytham ran the 800m in 1:59.89. Laytham also helped Davidson College to a victory in the Distance Medley relay with a official time of 10:42.04.

 On Thursday, February 23, 2012, Wesley Laytham ran a 1:59.68 in the Southern Conference Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Wesley Laythem also helped the Davidson Wildcats earn All Conference honors in the Distance Medley relay with an official time of 10:22.05. It was one of the top ten distance medley relay times in the history of Davidson.