CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, Northside College Prep Varsity Men traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois for the 2011 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.

 The meet featured St. Patrick, Urban Prep, Senn, Taft, Walter Payton, Roosevelt, Urban Prep Garfield, and host Northside College Prep.

 Team Trophies were awarded to the Top 6 Teams. Plaques were awarded to the top 6 places in the High Jump in honor of Northside Alumni Eric Nelson. Plaques were also awarded to the top 6 places in the 800m run in honor of 2010 Northside IHSA State Qualifier Wesley Laytham.

 Once a Northside athlete has qualified for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships, an event in the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic is named after them, beginning the following year. 

 Eric Nelson and Wesley Laytham were honored at the meet. Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic, and Wesley 800m run T-shirts were proudly displayed at the entrance way to Hanson Stadium. A photo in the shape of the State of Illinois of Eric Nelson High Jumping was displayed in front of the press box. 

 Hanson Stadium was spectacular, with a seating capacity of 10,000, unlimited Track & Field equipment, and an outstanding sound system, it is one of the best venues in Chicago for Track & Field.

 The 2011 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic provided a very special Track & Field experience for all participants.

 Medals were awarded to the Top 3 athletes in each event.  

 Goody bags were given to all participants on every team, after they completed their first event of the day. A special thanks to the Williams Family, Perlmutter Family, Agharese Family, and Melto Family for preparing Goody bags for all participants in the 2011 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.

 A special thanks to the Brodersen Family, and Graham Family for helping as timers in very cold temperatures. A special thanks to the Provax Family for providing bottled water for the athletes. A special thanks to Craig Williams for officiating the Long Jump and Triple Jump. A special thanks to Northside Throws Coach Charles Milbert for officiating the Shot Put and Discus. A special thanks to Jose Nebrida for officiating the High Jump. A special thanks to Northside Assistant Coach Joseph Hetland for serving as the official scorer. A special thanks to the Melto and Williams family for distributing the Medals and Awards.

 Last, a special thanks to De La Salle Coach and Throwing legend Ben H. Ward for serving as the official starter, and outstanding IHSA Official Harry Kannry.

 Northside College Prep WON the 2011 Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic with a score of 203 points, and posted victories over 2. Roosevelt (113 points), 3. Payton (104 points), 4. Taft (67 points), 5. St. Patrick (21 points), 6. Urban Prep East Garfield (1 point), 7. Senn (0 points), and 8. Urban Prep (0 points).

 In the High Jump, Northside Freshman Lucien Fitzpatrick tied Saint Patrick's Brian Ortman for first place with a personal best jump of 5'6. Northside Junior Josh Williams finished in third place with a jump of 5'4. Northside Freshman Walter Johnson-Geis finished in fourth place with a personal best jump of 5'0. Lucien Fitzpatrick, Brian Ortman, Josh Williams, and Walter Johnson-Geis were awarded a plaque for placing in the top four. All other competitors were unable to clear the opening height of 4'8. St. Patrick's Charlie Labuz came into the competition at 5'2, but was unable to clear it.

 In the Long Jump, Northside Junior Josh Williams won it with a jump of 17'9. Walter Payton Senior Matt Hayes finished in second place with a jump of 16'10. Northside Freshman Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in third place with a jump of 15'10.5. Walter Payton Sophomore Lester Harris and Walter Payton Freshman Jalen Aquiree tied for fourth place with jumps of 15'7. Roosevelt Senior Wilman Lopez finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a jump of 14'11.

 In the Triple Jump, Northside Junior Josh Williams won it with a jump of 35'10. Walter Payton Sophomore Lester Harris finished in second place with a jump of 33'6. Walter Payton Junior Perry Howell finished in third place with a jump of 32'10. Roosevelt Junior Sauban Menk finished in fourth place with a jump of 30'7.5. Northside Freshman Jay Yu finished in fifth place with a jump of 27'8. Northside Freshman Alex Theidmann earned a Varsity letter and completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with a jump of 26'10.5.

 In the Shot Put, Walter Payton Junior Omar Reyes won it with a throw of 41'6. Roosevelt Senior Mario Hurrado finished in second place with a throw of 39'2.5. Payton Junior Ed Harvey finished in third place with a throw of 36'10. Payton Freshman Alex Sheilds finished in fourth place with a throw of 30'7. Roosevelt Sophomore Abe Morales finished in fifth place with a throw of 29'9.5 Northside Sophomore Alex Park earned a Varsity letter and completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with an outstanding throw of 29'7.5.

 In the Discus, Walter Payton Junior Ed Harvey won it with a throw of 96'1.5. Roosevelt Mario Hurrado finished in second place with a throw of 94'4.25. Northside Senior Ottmar Flores finished in third place with a throw of 82'1. Northside Senior Allen Tu finished in fourth place with a throw of 81'4.5. Northside Sophomore Kapil Garg finished in fifth place with a throw of 66'9.5. Northside Sophomore Alex Park finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a throw of 65'11.25.

 In the 3200m run, Roosevelt Junior Jeffrey Rector won it with an official time of 10:15.30. Northside Senior Erik Zuehlke finished in second place with an outstanding time of 10:50.35. Walter Payton Junior Porter Traux finished in third place with an outstanding time of 10:57.20. St. Patrick Junior Charlie Labuz finished in fourth place with an official time of 11:06.15. Walter Payton Junior Jonathan Kamel finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 11:18.09. Northside Freshman Cesar Rufino completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with an official time of 11:31.12.

 Non-scoring athletes in the 3200m run, included: Roosevelt Senior Jose Guerrero (11:32), Taft Senior Steven Young (11:44), Payton Sophomore Jacob Turner (11:58), Roosevelt Sophomore Ivan Hernandez (11:59), Northside Junior Alexander Seibt (12:06), Taft Freshman Bruce McCaffrey (12:33), Northside Freshman Alex Gordon (12:58 - 3rd fastest Freshman in the 3200m), Roosevelt Sophomore Leonardo Bacio (13:06), St. Patrick Junior Joe Borgai (13:20), Northside Sophomore Andy Voung (14:05), Northside Sophomore Alex Bologna (14:23), and Northside Sophomore Henry Tankus (14:35).

 In the 4x100m Relay, Roosevelt (Ulsbold, Oscar, Wilman, Alfredo) won it with an official time of 46.10. Walter Payton (Dovian, Kalanik, Lowry, Smith) finished in second place with an official time of 47.23. Taft finished in third place with an official time of 51.09. St. Patrick finished in fourth place with an official time of 51.31. Northside (Ahmed, Delgado, Yu, Heinz) finished in fifth place with an official time of 54.03. Senn and Urban Prep East Garfield Park scratched.

 In the 4x800m Relay, Roosevelt (Flores, Paldo, Pequin, Cardona) won it with an official time of 10:01.50. Northside finished in second place with an official time of 10:03.09. Northside Freshman Joel Deleon ran a 2:28.0 800m split on the first leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Sophomore Patrick Brennan. Patrick Brennan ran a 2:28.0 800m split on the second leg of the relay, and made an exchange to Northside Freshman Darek Duplaga. Darak Duplaga ran a 2:33.0 800m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Northside Freshman Robert Szmurlo. Robert Szmurlo anchored the Mustangs to SECOND place with a 2:34.09 800m split, for an official time of 10:03.09. Taft finished in third place with an official time of 10:12.50. St. Patrick finished in fourth place with an official time of 10:18.20. Walter Payton finished in fifth place with an official time of 10:37.30. Northside Freshman Joel Deleon, Sophomore Patrick Brennan, Freshman Darek Duplaga, and Freshman Robert Szmurlo were awarded Medals for placing second overall.

 In the 110m Hurdles, Northside Senior Hersh Perlmutter WON it with an outstanding time of 17.46. Roosevelt Junior Alsbold Byambadorj finished in second place with an official time of 18.02. Walter Payton Sophomore Lester Harris finished in third place with an official time of 18.47. Roosevelt Senior Rowmail Gebre finished in fourth place with an outstanding time of 18.65. Walter Payton Freshman Evan Lowry finished in fifth place with a time of 19.12. Northside Freshman Walter Johnson-Geis finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 20.78. Walter Payton Sophomore Matt Webb finished in seventh place with an official time of 21.37. Walter Payton Sophomore Ashton Hampton finished in eighth place with a time of 22.37. Northside Freshman Alex Theidmann finished in ninth place with a personal best time of 24.19.

 In the 100m Dash, Northside Junior Mac Melto BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD and WON the 100m Dash with a personal best time of 10.92. Mac Melto was honored in practice on Thursday with a Watermelon for breaking the school record in the 100m Dash! Mac Melto was limited to only one event in the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic, because of Illinois Prep Top Times on Saturday, and he made the most of it by breaking the school record in the first outdoor track meet of the year! Mac Melto was awarded a Medal for placing first overall! Mac Melto will be departing for Illinois Prep Top Times on Friday after practice, and will be staying at Eastland Suites in Bloomington, Illinois. Pre-Meet Meal will take place on Friday night at Olive Garden. Mac Melto is the only Class AAA individual qualifier in the Chicago Public League. Northside Sophomore Nathaniel Agharese finished in second place in the 100m dash, with a personal best time of 11.23. Nathaniel Agharese was awarded a Medal for placing second overall. Walter Payton Junior Justin Smith finished in third place with an outstanding time of 11.46. Taft Junior George Vidas finished in fourth place with an outstanding time of 11.64. Walter Payton Junior Alex Short finished in fifth place with an official time of 11.97. Northside Senior Andres Delgado finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 12.01.

 Non-scoring athletes in the 100m Dash, included: Urban Prep Garfield Freshman Demetrius Ruffin (12.07), Taft Junior Jaime Rain (12.38), Walter Payton Freshman Juan Aguirre (12.46), Payton Senior Bill Lowry (12.52), Urban Prep Garfield Sophomore Cortez Wallace (12.56), Northside Senior Jameel Ahmed (12.58), Roosevelt Sophomore Abe Morales (12.69), Payton Sophomore Deniz Tatargil (12.61), Roosevelt Sophomore Abe Morales (12.69), Northside Senior Ottmar Flores (12.77), Northside Freshman Karl Heinz (13.00 - 3rd fastest Freshman in the 100m dash), Roosevelt Junior Alfredo Nyguen (13.09), Roosevelt Junior Sauban Menk (13.20), and Roosevelt Sophomore Salvador Cruz (13.89).

 In the 800m run, Northside Senior Wesley Laytham won it with an official time of 2:04.00. Roosevelt Junior Jeffrey Rector finished in second place with an outstanding time of 2:05.30. Northside Junior Pat Duffy finished in third place with an outstanding time of 2:12.09. Northside Junior Ezra Edgerton finished in fourth place with an oustanding time of 2:13.07. Northside Junior Dan Graham finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 2:14.23. Walter Payton Junior Tommy Komendzinski finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 2:18.30. Wesley Laytham, Jeffrey Rector, Pat Duffy, Ezra Edgerton, Dan Graham, and Tommy Komendzinski were honored with plaques for placing in the Top six in the 800m run! Northside scored 22 points in the 800m run! 

 Non-scoring athletes in the 800m Run, included: Walter Payton Senior Evander Ramos (2:19.67), Taft Senior Matt Grobelny (2:21.12), Taft Junior Raul Zuniga (2:23.10), Roosevelt Joseph (2:29.00), Northside Sophomore Calvin Gang (2:29.46), Taft Junior Jonathan Diaz (2:30.35), Roosevelt Sophomore Maurico Prado (2:31.23), Walter Payton Senior Matt Hayes (2:33.60), Walter Payton Junior Alex Short (2:36.23), Roosevelt Sophomore Ardany Granillo (2:37.15), Roosevelt Senior Jose Guerrero (2:45.32), Urban Prep Garfield Sophomore Lonnie Hampton (2:47.26), Walter Payton Freshman Donovan Aranda (2:47.80), Roosevelt Junior Julio Martinez (2:49.57), Northside Freshman Christian La Luz (2:55.00), Taft Freshman Metodi Popuski (3:09.70), and Urban Prep Garfield Sophomore Campbell Collins (3:58.60).

 In the 4x200m Relay, Walter Payton WON it with an outstanding time of 1:43.80. Roosevelt finished in second place with an official time of 1:44.60. Taft finished in third place with an outstanding time of 1:48.60. Northside 4x200m relay athletes were staying warm underneath the bleachers, and inadvertently missed their event.

 In the 400m Run, Northside Sophomore Nathaniel Agharese WON it with a personal best time of 54.15. Taft Senior Kevin Hart finished in second place with an outstanding time of 55.72. Taft Senior Andrew Dutka finished in third place with an outstanding time of 62.60. Taft Sophomore Kevin Black finished in fourth place with an official time of 63.69. Taft Freshman J. Torres finished in fifth place with an official time of 63.80. Urban Prep East Garfield Freshman Demetrius Ruffin finished in sixth place with an official time of 64.80. Taft scored 20 points in the 400m run! 

 Non-scoring athletes in the 400m Run, included: Taft Sophomore David R. (67.00), Northside Freshman Robert Szmurlo (67.20 - 3rd fastest Freshman in the 400m Run), Taft Sophomore Marvin (68.20), Urban Prep East Garfield Freshman Terence Russell (70.16), Roosevelt Sophomore Zubail Khan (71.00), Northside Freshman Angelo Perez (72.06 - 5th fastest Freshman in the 400m Run), Roosevelt Junior Jenner Ambrocio (73.00), Roosevelt Sophomore Angel Granillo (73.80), Northside Freshman Henry Lothschutz (75.90), Northside Freshman David Huang (79.00), Northside Freshman Andrew Donchak (88.00).

 In the 300m Hurdles, Roosevelt Junior Alsbold Byambadorj WON it with an official time of 44.77. Northside Freshman Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in second place with a personal best time of 47.57. Northside Senior Hersh Perlmutter finished in third place with an outstanding time of 48.10. Roosevelt Senior Rowmail Geire finished in fourth place with an outstanding time of 48.25. Northside Junior Josh Williams finished in fifth place with a personal best time of 49.72. Northside Freshman Walter Johnson-Geis finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 52.59. Northside Freshman Alex Theidmann ran a personal best time of 60.15.

 In the 1600m run, Roosevelt Junior Jeffrey Rector won it with an official time of 4:52.16. Northside Senior Wesley Laytham finished in second place with an official time of 5:08.32. Northside Freshman Cesar Rufino finished in third place with an outstanding time of 5:33.26. Northside Sophomore Patrick Brennan finished in fourth place with an official time of 5:38.09. Taft Senior Matt G. finished in fifth place with an outstanding time of 5:42.34. Northside Junior Alexander Seibt finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 5:43.16.

 Non-scoring athletes in the 1600m Run, included: Northside Freshman Joel Deleon (5:52.0), Northside Freshman Darek Duplaga (5:57.35), Roosevelt Senior Jose Guerrero (5:59.23), Roosevelt Sophomore Maurico Prado (6:00.09), Roosevelt Sophomore Ardany Granillo (6:05.17), Roosevelt Sophomore Ivan Hernandez (6:07.26), Taft Senior B. McCaffrey (6:12.41), Taft Senior S. Young (6:12.54), and Roosevelt Sophomore Leonardo Bucio (6:43.49).

  In the 200m Dash, Northside Sophomore Nathaniel Agharese BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD and WON the 200m Dash with a personal best time of 23.22. Nathaniel Agharese was honored in practice on Thursday with a Watermelon for breaking the school record in the 200m Dash! Taft Junior Vidas finished in second place with an outstanding time of 25.02. Taft Sophomore Kevin Black finished in third place with an outstanding time of 27.03. Northside Senior Ottmar Flores finished in fourth place with an official time of 27.05. Taft Sophomore Marvin C. finished in fifth place with an official time of 27.06. Taft Sophomore David P. completed the scoring by finishing in sixth place with an official time of 28.22. Northside Freshman Karl Heinz ran an official time of 30.42. Roosevelt Junior Rowmail Gebre ran an official time of 32.32.

 In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Junior Pat Duffy ran toe to toe with Roosevelt's Jeffrey Rector on the first leg of the relay, with a 56.0 400m split, and made a nice exchange to Senior Wesley Laytham. Weslay Laytham ran a 57.0 400m split on the second leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Junior Dan Graham. Dan Graham ran a 60.0 400m split on the third leg of the relay, and made a perfect exchange to Junior Ezra Edgerton. Ezra Edgerton ran a 61.0 400m split, to anchor the Mustangs to first place with an official time of 3:54.0. Roosevelt finished in second place with an official time of 4:06.22. Taft finished in third place with an official time of 4:18.35.

 WIN = What's Important Now?