CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

Olympian Jamie Nieto traveled from Sacramento, California on Saturday, November 15, 2008 to Chicago, Illinois to train with Northside College Prep Senior Eric Nelson. Eric Nelson is one of five returning high jumpers in the State of Illinois that have cleared 6’6 during their Junior year of high school.

 

Olympian Jamie Nieto competed for the U.S.A., the best Track Team in the World, in the 2008 and 2004 Olympics. He has a High Jump Personal Record of 7’8, and has finished as high as 4^th place in the Olympic games. He is the number one high jumper in the United States.

 

Jamie Nieto joined his high school Track Team during his Junior year of high school. His initial motivation for joining his high school Track Team was that he wanted to be able to jump high enough so that he could dunk a basketball. During his Junior year, he improved his vertical leap for basketball, and he also high jumped a personal best of 6’4 to qualify for the California High School State Track & Field Championships. His Senior year of high school, he jumped a personal best of 6’9. Jamie Nieto earned a Track scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, and jumped a personal best of 7’0 his Freshman year of college.

 

Jamie Nieto has progressed from a PR of 6’4 during his Junior year of high school to the Olympic Games with a PR of 7’8. Jamie Nieto’s current goal is to break the American Record with a jump of 7’10 ¾ (2.41 meters).

 

Olympian Jamie Nieto spent six hours on Saturday, November 15, 2008 training with Northside Senior Captain Eric Nelson. Nieto shared the six core Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, Celebration, Respect, Hope, and Harmony with Eric Nelson. Nieto defines the Olympic core value of “Harmony” as the moment that he cleared his PR of 7’8.

 

Olympian Jamie Nieto and Senior Eric Nelson trained together on the Track for hours. Jamie Nieto shared his meet day preparation for the Olympic Games with Eric Nelson. Jamie Nieto also gave him shoe selection advice, training advice, and also improved his High Jump technique. A friendship was formed, and email addresses were exchanged. It was a priceless experience.

 

A special thanks to World Sports Chicago, an organization committed to bringing the Olympic Games to Chicago in 2016, for selecting Eric Nelson for this opportunity, and making this experience possible.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has informed Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon that World Sports Chicago will be providing additional programs with Olympic athletes for Northside Track Team this season. As a result, this will be the best season to join the Northside Track & Field Team.

Last summer millions of people across the United States watched Olympian Sheena Tosta win the Silver Medal in 400m Hurdles on their television sets. On Saturday, November 15, 2008, Olympian Sheena Tosta traveled from her California home to Chicago to train with Northside College Prep Senior Captain Jennifer Kane.

Sheena Tosta attended Garfield High School in Virginia. At the 2000 Virginia State Championships, she won the 100m hurdles (13.8), and the 300m hurdles (40.94). Sheena Tosta earned a Track Scholarship to UCLA. In College, Sheena Tosta was a two-time National Champion in 2002 and 2003. Sheena Tosta currently resides in Los Angeles, California.  

Sheena Tosta made the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Teams. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Sheena Tosta won the Silver Medal in the 400m Hurdles!!

Northside Senior Jennifer Kane is the Mustangs top hurdler. Last season, she won the University of Chicago Lab School Indoor Classic with a personal best 55m Hurdle time of 10.30. Kane also holds the school records for the 4x100m and 4x200m Relays. Unfortunately, she was unable to compete in the IHSA State series due to an injury. Jennifer Kane has fully recovered, and after completing an outstanding Tennis season this Fall, she is looking forward to upcoming 2009 Track season.

Olympian Sheena Tosta spent six hours on Saturday, November 15, 2008 training with Northside Senior Captain Jennifer Kane. Tosta shared the six core Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, Celebration, Respect, Hope, and Harmony with Jennifer Kane.

During lunch Tosta and Kane swaped Track & Field stories, talked about the Olympic Village, and had a good time.

Olympian Sheena Tosta and Jennifer Kane trained together for six hours in the hallways with full-size hurdles and miniture hurdles. Sheena Tosta shared her meet day preparation for the Olympic Games with Jennifer Kane. Sheena Tosta also gave her training advice, and improved her Hurdle Technique. A friendship was formed, and phone numbers were exchanged. It was a priceless experience.

 

A special thanks to World Sports Chicago, an organization committed to bringing the Olympic Games to Chicago in 2016, for selecting Jennifer Kane for this opportunity, and making this experience possible.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has informed Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon that World Sports Chicago will be providing additional programs with Olympic athletes for Northside Track Team this season. As a result, this will be the best season to join the Northside Track & Field Team.

All Athletes need a new player record card for Track and Field season. Player record card from Fall and/or Winter sports cannot be used. The players record must be signed by the athlete and his or her parents. Athletes are also required to sign a code of conduct form and an IHSA Steroid testing consent form in order to be eligible to participate. Last, all Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE the first practice. The physical must be signed by a medical doctor, and have the doctor's address "stamp" on it, along with the phone number of the doctor. The doctor also must approve an athlete to participate in interscholastic sports on the physical. Physicals are good for one year. If you are unable to get an appointment with your doctor, we recommend, Dr. Chava Zimmerman at 847-583-9189. Friendly reminder, if any of the above requirements are not met, an athlete will be ruled ineligible for practices and meets. Click on Players Record Card and Physical Forms if you need a Players Record Card or Physical.

 On Friday, January 18, 2008, at 6:30 pm in the Northside College Prep cafeteria, the Northside Track & Field Booster Club will have their first meeting of the year. Appetizers (Shrimp Cocktail, BBQ Meatballs, Fresh Fruit) and drinks (Assorted Can Beverages and Bottled Water) will be provided.

This meeting will provide the Northside parents an oppotunity to meet the Track and Field coaching staff, learn about the Northside Track & Field program, learn about the NCAA Clearinghouse, Meet other Northside Parents, learn about Proper running shoes, and help us find volunteers to help with Team Tailgate parties and Pasta parties. Joining the Northside College Prep Track & Field Booster Club is free. There is no membership dues.

Benefits of the Northside Cross Country Booster Club include hosting Home meets, bringing Olympic athletes to Northside as guest speakers, hosting Tailgate parties after Meets for parents and athletes, and hosting Pasta parties before meets for the athletes during the season, and enhancing our season banquet.

The entire Northside College Prep Track and Field Team will have Shot Put Trials on Friday, January 23, 2009 from 7 pm - 9 pm at North Park University Indoor Track & Field Stadium. The Trials will help us discover new throwers and determine our initial Varsity, J.V., Sophomore, and Freshman Throwers for the first meet. Athletes will meet at the MAIN ENTRANCE of Northside College Prep at 6:30 pm before going to the Indoor Stadium at North Park University. Thanks.

 Gatorade and water will be provided for all Athletes. Awards will be given to the Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Athlete that throws the Shot Put the furtherest distance.