CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the Northside Sophomore-Freshman Girls were dismissed from classes for the day at 12:45 pm to have a barbeque to celebrate their April 24, 2009 6th Place finish in the Chicago Public School Championships out of a field of over 34 Teams.

  Whitney Young won the Meet with 126.50 points. Lane Tech finished in second place with 103 points. Simeon finished in third place with 100 points. DuSable finished in fourth place with 62.50 points. North Lawndale finished in fifth place with 41 points. Northside College Prep finished in sixth place with 36 points, and posted victories over among others, Calumet (33.5 points), Steinmetz (33 points), Kenwood (29.50 points) Kelly (15 points), Lake View (14 points), Dunbar (12.5 points), Payton (12 points), Brooks (11 points), Robeson (11 points), Prosser (10 Points), Douglass Academy (10 points), Corliss (9 points), Jones College Prep (8 points), Phillips (6.5 points), King (6 points), Harlan (4 points), Manley (3 points), Mather (1 point), and Harper (1 point). 

   The Mustangs were led in scoring by throwers Katie Dugan and Caeleigh Renkosiak outstanding performances in Shot Put and Discus. 

    In the Discus, Northside Sophomore Katie Dugan threw a personal best 76'5.5 to place fourth overall in Chicago. Sophomore Caeleigh Renkosiak threw the Discus an outstanding 67'11.5 to place sixth overall.

    In the Shot Put, Sopomores Caeleigh Renkosiak and Katie Dugan both threw an outstanding 28'8 to tie for fourth place overall. The tie was broken by the distance of their respective second best throws. Caeleigh Renkosiak was awarded fourth place with a second best throw of 27'9.5. Katie Dugan was awarded fifth place with a second best throw of 27'0. Renkosiak and Dugan will be seeking the school record at the Lady Viking Invitational on Friday, May 1, 2009 at Niles North High School.

  In the High Jump, Northside Sophomore Robin Doherty finished third overall with a personal best jump of 4'6. Northside Sophomore Ashley Kossakowski jumped a personal best 4'0.

  In the Long Jump, Northside Freshman Anastasia Rhodes finished in eighth place with a personal best jump of 13'9. Northside Freshman Vivian Lei also jumped a personal best 13'9.

  In the Triple Jump, Northside Freshman Anastasia Rhodes jumped an outstanding 27'1. Northside Sophomore Lindsey Shallberg jumped an outstanding 22'11. 

  In the 100m Dash, Northside Freshman Rosailie Abbey ran a time of 16.17. Northside Sophomore Gensis Meza ran a time of 18.98.

  In the 200m Dash, Northside Sophomore Gensis Meza ran a time of 37.00.

  In the 400m Dash, Northside Sophomore Nina Coomes places 8th overall with an outstanding time of 69.49.

  In the 800m Run, Northside Freshman Yuwei Lei ran a time of 3:52.

  In the Mile, Northside Freshman Yuwei Lei ran a personal best time of 8:29.10.

  In the 100m Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Robin Doherty finished in fourth place overall with a time of 20.63. Northside Sophomore Lindsey Shallberg finished in ninth place overall with a time of 22.74.

  In the 300m Hurdles, Northside Sophomore Robin Doherty ran a time of 63.70.

  In the 4x800m Relay, Northside Freshman Yuwei Lei, Sophomore Lindsey Shallberg, Sophomore Vernadette Delos Santos, and Sophomore Gensis Meza combined for a time of 15:21.29 to finish in sixth place overall.    

  In the 4x100m Relay, Northside Sophomore Ashley Kossakowski, Sophomore Lindsey Shallberg, Sophomore Stella Han, and Gensis Meza combined for a time of 65.48.

  In the 4x200m Relay, Northside Freshman Rosailie Abbey, Freshman Vivian Lei, Freshman Anastasia Rhodes, and Sophomore Katie Dugan combined for a time of 2:17.60.

  In the 4x400m Relay, Northside Freshman Hannah Doruelo, Freshman Rosailie Abbey, Freshman Vivian Lei, and Sophomore Nina Coomes combined for a time of 5:01.30 to finish in sixth place overall.

SOPHOMORE POINTS SCORED AT CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS 

1. Robin Doherty                                 11.00 

2. Katie Dugan                                      9.00

3. Caeleigh Renkosiak                           8.00

4. Nina Coomes                                    1.75

5. Yuwei Lei                                         0.75

5. Hannah Doruelo                               0.75

5. Vivian Lei                                         0.75 

5. Vernadette Delos Santos                   0.75

5. Gensis Meza                                      0.75

5. Rosailie Abbey                                  0.75

5. Lindsey Shallberg                              0.75

 Northside College Prep Varsity Men are preparing for the High Jump Relay and the 4x1 Mile Relay against a loaded field, including: York High School, New Trier, Stevenson, Deerfield, Maine South, Glenbrook South, Highland Park, Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills, Loyola Academy and host Glenbrook North in the Spartan Relays on Friday, May 1, 2009 at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois. Prior to the meet, the Northside Mustangs will walk five miles in the morning from Northside to Wrigley Field to raise money for a charity, and catch a few innings of the Chicago Cubs game before departing for the Spartan Relays.  

 Northside College Prep Varsity Women are preparing for the Lady Viking Invitational against Glenbrook North, Loyola, New Trier, and host Niles North on Friday, May 1, 2009 at Niles North High School. Niles North High School is famous for hosting spectacular meets. The meet features two levels, Varsity and Junior Varsity. In addition to medals, athletes are awarded amazing T-Shirts with their place and event on it. Prior to the meet, the Northside Varsity Women and Junior Varsity Girls will walk five miles in the morning from Northside to Wrigley Field to raise money for a charity, and catch a few innings of the Chicago Cubs game before departing for the Lady Viking Invitational. The Northside Varsity Women will be attempting to break the 4x800m Relay record at the Lady Viking Invitational.  

 Northside Sophomore-Freshman Boys are preparing for the Chicago Public School Conference Track & Field Championships. The Sophomore-Freshman Championship qualifying meet will take place at Eckersall Stadium on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The bus will depart at 8:15 am. This will be a highly competive meet between, among others, Harlan, Whitney Young, Lane Tech, Urban Prep and Mather for the Sopomore-Freshman Boys City Title. There are six solid Teams that could win it. One day prior to the meet, the Northside Mustangs will walk five miles from Northside to Wrigley Field to raise money for a charity, and root on the Chicago Cubs to victory. 

 The Sophomore-Freshman finals will take place on Friday, May 8, 2009 at Hanson Stadium. Harlan freshman phenom Dominique Crutcher will attempt to run in the 4x800m Relay, 3200m run, 800m run, and Mile in the finals to give Harlan their first Sophomore-Freshman City title since 1974. Let's have a large bottle of gatorade ready for him after the Mile. Olympic 800m runner Nick Symmonds did it his Senior year of high school, and won State in four events, and won two NCAA Division III Titles (800 and 1500m run) on the same day, but it is unheard of for a high school Freshman. Northside's Final Entries for the Sophomore-Freshman Chamionships are listed under "Student of the Sport". Friendly reminder, we need everyone listed, including alternates ready to go on Saturday, May 2, 2009 and Friday, May 8, 2009. 

Final reminder, Banquet ticket orders are due on Thursday, April 30, 2009. If you miss the deadline, and would like to go to the banquet, contact Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon immediately. Thanks. 

Grazino's Northside Track & Field night, will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 5960 West Tough Avenue, Niles, Illinois 60714 from 4:00 pm - 9:30 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 April 30, 2009, from Northside guests between 4:00 - 9:30 pm to the Northside College Prep Track & Field Team.

  What do you do?

  1. Go out to dinner at Grazino's, Thursday night, April 30, between 4:00 and 9:30 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).

 On Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the Northside Varsity Men traveled to Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois to take on the Caxys in a dual meet. Lake Forest Academy features a multi-million dollar track, hockey rink, and extensive athletic facilities. The campus is surrounded by woods, complete with running trails. Lake Forest Academy was excellent hosts. Cold temperatures and a steady rain did not stop the meet.

 (Coming soon: Complete results from the Lake Forest Academy Classic, and Varsity Points)

 (Coming soon: Complete results from the Lake Forest Academy Classic, and Varsity Points)

 On Friday, April 17, 2009, Northside Athletes Eric Nelson, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, and Cooper Eben along with representatives from all of the visiting Teams, attended the Windy City Track & Field Pre-Meet Banquet at the historic Parkway Ballroom. A special thanks to Elzie Higginbottom, Dr. Conrad Worrill, and Thomas Smith for making this event possible, and for their tireless efforts in promoting Track & Field in Chicago. Dr. Conrad Worrill has been to many banquets at the historic Parkway Ballroom, and can tell you about appearances by Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalf.    

 On Friday, April 17, 2009, after a gourmet meal, another Olympic legend was added to the list of famous athletes to speak at the historic Parkway Ballroom. 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon addressed the athletes on the eve of the Windy City Classic Relays. Bob Beamon was the first athlete to long jump over 28 feet. His Olympic record (29 ft. 2 1/2 inches) still stands today, forty years later. Bob Beamon has been inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame as well as the Olympic Hall of Fame. Sports Illustrated ranked his jump as one of the five greatest sports moments in the 20th century.

 Bob Beamon told the athletes that he "jumped" at the 1968 Olympics, and that he has never come down. Beamon stressed to the athletes the importance of self-confidence, and believing in yourself, and the positive impact Track & Field has had on his life. Everyone Bob Beamon grew up with, had a short life, and Beamon credited Track & Field with saving his life. At the age of 15, Bob Beamon jumped 24'0 feet in a long jump competition, and it changed his life forever, and got him out of a bad environment, in which none of his friends survived. Bob Beamon continues today to give back to the sport, by helping disadvantaged Track & Field athletes. The Bob Beamon Organization for Youth, helps disadvantaged scholar athletes throughout the nation.

 On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the Northside Varsity Men and Varsity Women Track Teams traveled to Hanson Stadium in Chicago Illinois for the Windy City Classic Relays. The meet featured Teams from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

  In the Varsity Mens division, the Illinois Teams dominated the Meet. IHSA Sectional rival Oak Park River Forest won the meet. The Northside Varsity Men upset ALL of the Teams from Indiana and Wisconsin to finish seventh overall with 29 points. The Northside Mustangs posted upset victories over Indiana's Lew Wallace (28 points), Gary's West Side (23 points), De Lasalle Meteors (21 points), Harlan Academy (15 points), Lincoln Park (10 Points), Leo (7 Points), Milwaukee Bradley Technical (7 points), Prosser (6 points), Lincoln-Way North (4 points), Hyde Park (4 points), Harper (4 points), Kenwood Academy (2 points), North Lawndale (2 points), Lakeview (1 point), Fenger (1 point), Payton (0 points), Du Sable (0 Points), and Steinmetz (0 points).

  In the Varsity Womens division, East St. Louis won it. The Northside Women finished in 17th place with two points, and posted victories over North Lawndale, and host Simeon.

  In the Varsity Boys High Jump competition, the field included 22 athletes, with Olympic legend Bob Beamon present at the competition. Northside Senior Eric Nelson won it by clearing 6'4 on his final attempt. The cross bar was then raised to 6'5.50 to attempt to break his own meet record (6'5, 2008). Eric Nelson made three quality attempts at 6'5.50, and the crowd applauded his efforts. Indiana Basketball star, Damion McGee (Lew Wallace High School) finished in second place with a jump of 6'2. Prosser's Evan Brown jumped a personal best 6'0 to finished in third place. Harlan Junior Trevor Gills finished in fourth place with an outstanding jump of 6'0. Oak Park-River Forest's Carl Heinz finished in fifth place with a jump of 6'0. Whitney Young's Stephan Devroe, Lane Tech's Mark Brand, and Whitney Young's Cameron Allen finished in a tie for sixth place to complete the scoring with outstanding jumps of 5'10. Northside Junior Hunter Speese jumped an outstanding 5'4.

 In the Varsity Girls High Jump competition, St. Gregory's Regina George won it with a jump of 5'8. Gary West Side's Beatrice Turpin finished in second place with a jump of 5'3. Lane Tech's Bridgette Jones finished in third place with a jump of 5'2. Bloom's Layne Murphy finished in fourth place with a jump of 5'0. East Saint Louis teammates Kerryona Green and Jasmine Land tied for fifth place with a jump of 5'0 to complete the scoring. Northside Sophomore Robin Doherty jumped a personal best 4'6. Northside Senior Maria Torres jumped 4'4.

(Coming soon: Complete Results)