News and Announcements
Mustangs 205 lbs Bench Press Club: Damian Azubuike
On Monday, January 31, 2011, Northside Senior Damian Azubuike became the newest member of the 205 lbs Bench Press Club. A 205 lbs Bench Press T-shirt is awarded to any member of the Track & Field Team who can Bench Press 205 lbs for a minimum of six reps at any point in the season.
Members of the 205 lbs Bench Press Club:
1. Eric Nelson (2008 - Junior)
2. Damian Azubuike (2011 - Senior)
3. Rafael Confino (2009 - Senior)
4. Chris Zysko (2006 - Senior)
5. Robert Garcia (2007 - Senior)
6. Darrel Johnson (2007 - Senior)
All Weight Room records must be set in the presence of a Team Captain or a member of the coaching staff.
Northside Freshman, Sophomores, and Varsity prepare for the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic!!!
On Friday, January 28, 2011, the Northside Sprinters, Jumpers, Hurdlers, and Throwers will have completed their second week of practice in preparation for the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic on Friday, February 4, 2011!
On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the Northside Distrance runners will have completed their second week of practice with an Indoor Track workout in preparation for the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic on Friday, February 4, 2011!
Performances at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic will have a major impact on the Northside Mustangs entries for the Lonnell Poole Varsity Invitational and Sophomore-Freshman Invitational on February 12, 2011, which features among others, the Harlan Falcons.
The 2011 Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic features a record 24 Teams this year, including Niles North, Northtown Academy, North Shore Country Day, Mather, Clemente, Gordon Tech, Von Steuben, Northside College Prep, Marshall, Roosevelt, Lincoln Park, Austin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lakeview, Schurtz, Urban Prep, South Shore, Urban Prep Englewood, Senn, North Lawndale, Taft, Dusable, Prespective Charter, and host Niles West.
In 2010, the Northside Freshman upset very impressive teams to win the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic, for the first time in Northside history! No one will ever forget Nathaniel Agharese meet record of 36 points in the Freshman division at the 2010 Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic! Despite the success of the 2010 Northside Freshman Team, the 2011 Northside Freshman Team is much stronger in talent and depth, and the Mustangs will be seeking their second consecutive Freshman Title at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic!
In 2010, the Northside Sophomores finished in Third place at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic. The 2011 Northside Sophomores will be seeking to improve upon the 2010 Sophomores performances. It will be tougher for the Sophomores this year, with Nathaniel Agharese running for the Varsity.
The Northside Varsity went from scoring only 37 points in 2009 at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic, to a Northside record 113.50 points in 2010! An improvement of 76.50 points in only one year! In 2010, the Northside Varsity placed third at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic! The Northside Mustangs will be seeking to improve upon their 2010 performances, and contend for the title in 2011 against a strong Niles North Team.
Entries for the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic will be distributed in practice. ALL Northside athletes will be competing in the meet. Two Buses will depart from Northside at 3:30 pm on Friday, 4, 2011 for the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic.
Field Events at the Niles West Wolves Indoor Classic include: Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, High Jump and Shot Put.
The Order of Track Events is:
1000m Run
55m High Hurdles
50m Dash
800m Run
4x160m Relay
600m Run
400m Dash
55m Low Hurdles
1600m Run
200m Dash
4x160m Weightmen Relay
4x400m Relay
Mac Melto, Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Dan Graham,Nathaniel Agharese,Pat Duffy, Simon Kafka, & Marshan Melsap impressive at King of the Quarter!
On Friday, January 21, 2011, the Northside Track & Field Team continued a Final Exams tradition, by gathering at the main entrance of Northside College Prep, for departure to North Park University for the 6th Annual King of the Quarter!
A special thanks to North Park University Head Track Coach Skip Stolley and staff, for hosting this great event. The event was complete with the best P.A. announcer in Illinois giving the play by play of every race, and updates throughout the evening, with the complete standings for King of the Quarter.
Former NCAA Champion, and Distance legend Dave Valentine, fired the gun on every heat of 2011 King of the Quarter. In 1980, Dave Valentine ran a cross country personal record of 14:04 for three miles. He was favored to win the State Cross Country Title, and break Craig Virgins course record. However, a hamstring injury ended his season early. Dave Valentine went on to win the NCAA title in the 10,000m run. Valentine was impressed with the Mustangs performance on Friday and the spirit of the Team.
Every available member of the Northside Track & Field Team, regardless if they were thrower, distance runner, sprinter, jumper, or hurdler, raced in one of thirty-four heats of the 400m Dash and competed in one of the seventeen flights of the Shot Put.
The King of the Quarter and Shot Put gives Northside athletes an appreciation for each others events, and makes the TEAM stronger.
The distance runners also benefit from the 400m Time Trial, by learning their maximum quarter speed. With the knowledge of their maximum quarter speed, the coaching staff is able to provide proper racing strategy for the 800m run.
Medals were awarded to the top three Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshman in the 400m Dash.
Although the event was just a time trial, the crowd was so large at Alford Indoor Track at North Park University, that spectators had to stand in the balcony of the stadium to see the 400m time trial.
Despite the size of the crowd, you could hear a pin drop, when it was announced Junior Mac Melto and Senior Wesley Laytham would be in the next heat.
Prior to 2010, the fastest Northside time ever recorded at King of the Quarter was a 57.50. That changed dramatically last year, when Mac Melto broke the record for King of the Quarter with a 54.78!
In 2011, a new record was established at King of the Quarter!!!
Mac Melto broke his own King of the Quarter record, with an outstanding time of 54.36! Mac Melto dropped 0.42 of a second from last year! Mac Melto will be awarded a Medal as the fastest Junior, and King of the Quarter.
In 2010, the fastest Senior ran a time of 59.84 at King of the Quarter. In 2011, that changed dramatically.
Wesley Laytham was the fastest Senior and ran the second fastest time overall with an outstanding time 55.60! Wesley Laytham dropped 1.90 seconds (57.50) from his last King of the Quarter Competition. Wesley Laytham will also be awarded a Medal as the fastest Senior.
Charlie Mesimore was the second fastest Senior, and ran the third fastest time overall with an outstanding time of 56.80! Charlie Mesimore dropped 6.98 seconds (63.78) from his last King of the Quarter Competition. Charlie Mesimore ran 500 miles this past winter, in preperation for Track & Field season. Charlie Mesimore finished in second place in the Senior division, and will also be awarded a Medal.
Dan Graham was one of the most improved athletes at King of the Quarter. In 2010, Dan Graham ran a time of 64.50 at King of the Quarter. In 2011, Dan Graham was the second fastest Junior, and ran the fourth fastest time overall with a personal best time of 58.55! Dan Graham dropped 5.95 seconds from last year! Dan Graham finished in second place in the Junior division, and will also be awarded a Medal.
Nathaniel Agharese finished in fifth place overall, and was the fastest Sophomore at King of the Quarter with an outstanding time of 59.65! Nathaniel Agharese finished in first place in the Sophomore division, and will also be awarded a Medal.
Pat Duffy finished in sixth place overall, and was the third fastest Junior at King of the Quarter. Pat Duffy ran an outstanding time of 61.11! Pat Duffy finished in third place in the Junior division, and will also be awarded a Medal.
Josh Williams finished in ninth place overall, and was the fourth fastest Junior at King of the Quarter with an outstanding time of 62.09! Josh Williams dropped 2.29 seconds (65.09) from last year!
Calvin Gang finished in tenth place overall, and was the second fastest Sophomore at King of the Quarter with a personal best time of 64.00! Calvin Gang dropped 3.69 seconds (67.69) from last year! Calvin Gang earned a Medal by placing in second place in the Sophomore division.
Simon Kafka, Marshan Melsap, and Darek Duplaga top Freshman at King of the Quarter!
On Friday, January 21, 2011, Eighteen Northside Freshman athletes traveled to North Park University in Chicago, Illinois for King of the Quarter! It was the most Freshman athletes to ever compete in a King of the Quarter competition!
Northside Freshman Simon Kafka won the Freshman division of King of the Quarter with an outstanding time of 61.49. Simon Kafka earned a Medal by placing first in the Freshman division of King of the Quarter!
Northside Freshman Marshan Melsap finished in second place in the Freshman division with an outstanding time of 61.77. Marshan Melsap earned a Medal by placing second in the Freshman division of King of the Quarter!
Northside Freshman Darek Duplaga finished in third place in the Freshman division with an outstanding time of 65.34! Darek Duplaga earned a Medal by placing third in the Freshman division of King of the Quarter!
Northside Freshman Joel Deleon finished in fourth place with a personal best time of 66.02!
Northside Frehsman Lucien Fitzpatrick finished in fifth place with a personal best time of 66.69!
Northside Freshman Robert Szmurlo finished in sixth place with an outstanding time of 66.97!
Northside Freshman Cesar Rufino finished in seventh place with a personal best time of 68.39!
Northside Freshman Karl Heinz finished in eighth place with a personal best time of 69.85!
Northside Freshman Walter Johnson-Geis finished in ninth place with a personal best time of 70.09.
Northside Freshman Jay Yu finished in tenth place with a personal best time of 70.81.
Northside Freshman Alex Gordon finished in eleventh place with a personal best time of 73.34.
Northside Freshman Truman Brady finished in 12th place with a personal best time of 74.18.
Northside Freshman Christian La Luz finished in 13th place with a personal best time of 75.71.
Northside Freshman Alec Reinke finished in 14th place with a personal best time of 76.58.
Northside Freshman Kenji Wong finished in 15th place with a personal best time of 76.95.
Northside Freshman Angelo Perez finished in 16th place with a personal best time of 77.44.
Northside Freshman Henry Lothschutz finished in 17th place with a personal best time of 77.67.
Northside Freshman David Huang finished in 18th place with a personal best time of 86.68.
The Northside Freshman have been very impressive this year, in sprints, throws, hurdles, jumps, and distance event training groups. They will contend for the Freshman title at the Niles West Invitational on February 4, 2011.
