CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Saturday, February 12, 2011, the Northside Varsity Men Track & Field Team traveled to Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois for the Lonnell Poole Invitational.

 The Lonnell Poole Invitational included, among others, Bartlett, Bloom High School, Jefferson, Thornton Fractional North, Argo, Hill crest, St. Ignatius, Crete-Monee, Northside College Prep, Shepard, and Orr.

 In 2010, the Northside Varsity Men scored only 12 points at the Lonnell Poole Invitational. That changed dramatically on Saturday.

 Bloom High School featured a 150 meters indoor track, complete with a High Jump Pit, Long Jump / Triple Jump Pit, and a Shot Put area. 

 The oldest school record at Northside is in the Long Jump. It has been held since 2003, by Leron Mitchell with a jump of 19'2.5.

 On the very first jump of 2011 Indoor Track & Field season, Northside Junior Josh Williams BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a personal best jump of 19'4!!! Josh Williams will be honored in practice on Monday with a Watermelon for breaking the school record in the Long Jump!

 In the Triple Jump, Josh Williams jumped an outstanidng 38'04 to place eighth overall.

 In the Shot Put, Northside Senior Damian Azubuike threw an outstanding 35'03. Northside Senior Luke Kotowski threw a personal best 30'07.50!

 In the High Jump, Northside Junior Mac Melto and Northside Junior Josh Williams tied for sixth place with an outstanding jump of 5'4.

 In the 55m Dash Prelims, Northside Junior Mac Melto ran an outstanding time of 6.91. Northside Senior Luke Kotowski ran an outstanding time of 7.78.

 In the 3200m run, distance runners were required to run 21.3 laps on a 150m indoor track. St. Ignatius Jack Cross won the 3200m run with an outstanding time of 10:02.59. Northside Senior Charlie Mesimore finished in fourth place to secure vital points for the TEAM, with an outstanding time of 10:35.01. Mesimore also ran the second fastest time in Northside history on the 150m Track at the Lonnell Poole Invitational. Charlie Mesimore ran the first 50m in 7 seconds, and then ran 150m splits of 29 (1), 29 (2), 30 (3), 28 (4), 29 (5), 28 (6), 30 (7), 29 (8),  29 (9), 28 (10), 30 (11), 29 (12), 30 (13), 31 (14), 31 (15), 30 (16), 33 (17), 32 (18), 33 (19), 28 (20), and then ran the final 150 meters in 32 seconds for an outstanding time of 10:35.01. Northside Sophomore Brendan Kelly finished in tenth place with a time of 13:16.50.

 In the 800m run, Northside Senior Wesley Laytham WON it with an outstanding time of 2:05.78. A year ago, Wesley Laytham ran a 2:11 in his first meet. In 2011, Laytam ran 6 seconds faster than his first meet in 2010, with an outstanding time of 2:05.78! Laytham was the only CPS Class AAA individual state qualifer in the 800m run in 2010, and is already six seconds ahead of last year. Wesley Laytham was awarded a Medal for placing first overall. Bloom's Nick Anderson finished in second place with an outstanding time of 2:06.91. St. Ignatius Andrew Reardon finished in third place with an outstanding time of 2:09.97. Bartlett Joasfat Gonzalez finished in fourth place with a time of 2:11.13. Bartlet Nasir Almansri finished in fifth place with a time of 2:11.78. Bloom's Stephan Riley completed the scoring with a time of 2:12.81. Northside Junior Dan Graham ran an outstanding time of 2:20.41 to place ninth overall.

 In the 400m run, Northside Junior Mac Melto ran an outstanding race against Thronton Fractional North's Denzel Washington. Mac Melto finished in third palce overall with an outstanding time of 54.50! Mac Melto was awarded a Medal for placing third overall. Northside Senior Andres Del Gado ran an outstanding time of 66.71 to place 17th overall.

 In the 1600m run, Northside Senior Erik Zuehlke placed sixth overall to secure vital points for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 5:02.91. Erik Zuehlke ran the first 100m in 14 seconds, and than ran 150m splits of 28 (1), 25 (2), 29 (3), 29 (4), 30 (5), 30 (6), 31 (7), 29 (8), 29 (9), and then ran the final 150 meters in 28.91 seconds for an outstanding time of 5:02.91.

 In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Junior Mac Melto ran the first leg of the relay in 56.45 seconds, and made a perfect exchange to Junior Dan Graham. Dan Graham ran the second leg of the relay in 60.55 seconds, and then made a perfect exchange to Senior Charlie Mesimore. Charlie Mesimore ran the third leg of the relay in 59.96 seconds, and made a perfect exchange to Senior Wesley Laytham. Wesley Laytham anchored the Mustangs to 5th place overall with a 57.89 400m split for a total time of 3:54.85. St. Ignatius finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with a time of 3:56.86.

VARSITY POINTS SCORED AT LONNELL POOLE INVITATIONAL 

1. Wesley Laytham                            10.50 

2. Mac Melto                                      7.00 

3. Charlie Mesimore                            4.50 

4. Erik Zuehlke                                    1.00 

5. Josh Williams                                  0.50

 On Friday, February 4, 2011, the Northside Track & Field Team completed their third week of practice in preparation for the 2011 Lonnell Poole Invitational!

 The Lonnell Poole Invitational in one of the top meets in the midwest, and is named after 1964 Bloom High School State Champion, Lonnell Poole. 

 The 2011 Lonnell Poole Invitational features 13 Teams, including Thornton Fractional North, South Elgin, St. Rita, Northside College Prep, St. Ignatius, Illiana Christian, Argo, Hillcrest, Rockford Jefferson, Bartlett, Lincoln-Way East, Crete Monee, and host Bloom Twp.

 Two Buses will depart from Northside at 7:15 am on Saturday, February 12, 2011 for the Lonnell Poole Invitational. 

 Field Events at the Lonnell Poole Invitational include: Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, High Jump and Shot Put.

 The Order of the Varsity Track Events (Finals) is:

  4x800m Relay

  3200m Run

  55M High Hurdles

  55M Dash

  800m Run

  4x200m Relay

  400m Dash

  1600m Run

  200m Dash

  4x400m Relay

 On Friday, February 4, 2011, Jewel bus company drivers failed to report to work. Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon quickly found substitute transportation, with Chicago Double Decker Bus Company to bring the TEAM to Niles West High school. A Double Decker bus charges $275.00 to the drop off point, and then a $100 per hour to wait for the end of the meet. Northside had planned to use the double decker bus just to the drop off point, and have a limousine bus transport athletes back from Niles West. Both options are not expensive, and equal to the costs of Jewel Bus company, if you just have the buses drop off and pick up athletes to avoid the hourly charge.

 However, other schools were unable to find substitute transportation. As a result, Niles West was forced to cancel the meet.

 The Northside Track Team will have practice at 3:45 pm today.

  Universal Sole is located at 3052 N. Lincoln in Chicago, Illinois 60657 and specializes in Track & Field shoes. Universal Sole was purchased in 2009 by former Indiana University Track Star, Joel Feinberg, who was also a High School teammate of Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon at Glenbrook North High School in 1989-1990. Universal Sole will provide a discount to Northside athletes, and are highly recommended.

Northside College Prep will be closed on Wednesday, and Thursday. As a result, practice is canceled. However, the weather is going to be clear this evening, and we will still have Grazino's Northside Track & Field night.

Members of the coaching staff will be available to pick up uniforms on Wednesday night at Grazino's. However, you can also pick up your uniform at the bus on Friday at 3:25 pm. Thanks. 

Grazino's Northside Track & Field night, will take place prior to the Boys Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic, on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 5960 West Touhy Avenue, Niles, Illinois 60714 from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The Northside Track & Field Team is encouraging everyone to dine out at Grazino's. Grazino's will be donating 25% of the proceeds collected on February 2, 2011, from Northside guests between 4:00 - 10:00 pm to the Northside College Prep Track & Field Team.

What do you do?

  1. Go out to dinner at Grazino's, Wednesday night, February 2, between 4:00 and 10:00 p.m. (Tell everyone you know. Bring everyone you know. Eat a lot.)

  2. Tell your server you're there to support Northside College Prep Track Team.

  3. Graziano's will donate an amount equal to 25% of your dinner check to the Northside College Prep Track & Field Team.

  4. Graziano's is at 5960 West Touhy Avenue, Niles, Illinois (West of Lehigh Avenue, East of Caldwell Avenue).