CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

The entire Northside College Prep Track and Field Team will have a 400m Time Trial on Friday, January 23, 2009 from 7 pm - 9 pm at North Park University Indoor Track & Field Stadium. The Time Trial will help determine our initial Varsity, J.V., and Sophomore 4x400m Relay Teams. The Time Trial will also help the coaching staff plan racing strategy for the distance events, and help determine future training in all other events. Gatorade and water will be provided for all Athletes. Awards will be given to the fastest Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Athlete in the 400m Dash. 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 fastest Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Athlete in the 400m Dash.  

 On Thursday, October 16, 2008, Northside Head Track & Field Coach Jon Gordon announced that a nationwide search had been completed, and after months of interviews, Kate Cook was officially named Throwers coach of the Northside Track & Field Team for the 2009 season.

 Kate Cook is from Simsbury, Connecticut and competed in Track & Field for 8 years (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, and Hammer), including four years as an NCAA athlete at Oberlin College. In High School, Kate Cook qualified for the State Championships in Discus. In College, she won the Mary Culhane Award as the Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete.

 Kate Cook holds the Oberlin College school record in the Hammer. Kate Cook also finished second in the Shot Put in her Conference.

 Kate Cook was Team Captain at Oberlin College, and won the Gertude Moulton Memorial Award for Excellence in Academics, Athletics, and Leadership. Her advanced techniques for training Outdoor Discus throwers while indoors were the most impressive of all of the candidates. In the past, Northside focused primarily on Shot put during the winter months, and will now be able to focus on Discus as well indoors. Kate Cook is also in expert in Hammer, Javelin, and Shot Put. 

 Currently, Kate Cook is pursuing a Masters of Science in Education at Northwestern University Graduate School.

 Kate Cook will be a major asset to the Northside Track & Field Team. The Mustangs will be seeking the Class 3A State Title in 2009.

 On Thursday, May 29, 2008, the Mustangs Mens and Womens Track & Field Team was honored at La Villa Banquet Hall on the corner of Addison and Pulaski in Chicago, Illinois. The Northside Track & Field Team is the largest Sports Team in the history of Northside College Prep, and due to the size of the Team, the banquet could not be held at Northside this year. The Mustangs were provided with their own Banquet Hall. La Villa Banquet Hall featured tables decorated in school colors, awards tables, and a podium with a wireless microphone. The Mustangs and honored guests were provided with unlimited pizza, and unlimited beverages for the entire duration of the Banquet. Following Dinner, each athlete was called up to the podium, and the coaching staff talked about the highlights of each individual athlete's season. School Record Plaques were awarded all of the athletes that broke a school record in an individual event or Relay in 2008. All of the Freshman were awarded graduating class numerals. Sophmores and Junior Varsity athletes were awarded a medium size letter N. Varsity athletes were awarded a large size letter N. Athletes that have earned multiple letters were given a Northside Track and Field pin to represent the number of years the athlete has earned a Varsity letter. To qualify for a Varisty letter, an athlete must have scored a point in a Varsity Meet or competed in the IHSA Sectional Championships. No letter awards were given to athletes that did not complete the season. 

 After each athlete was called to the podium to receive their individual letter award and/or school record plaque, the following awards were announced:

STATE QUALIFIER PLAQUES. These plaques feature a GOLD replica of the State of Illinois on the plaque, and are engraved with the athlete's name, Northside College Prep, and the name of the event that the athlete qualified in for IHSA State Championships. At the Banquet, Northside Junior  Eric Nelson (High Jump) and Junior  Maria Torres (Triple Jump) were awarded State Qualifier Plaques. 

CITY CHAMPION PLAQUES: These plaques are GOLD plated, and feature a Track athlete in action, and are engraved with the athlete's name, Northside College Prep, and the name of the event that the athlete won at the CPS Outdoor Championships. At the Banquet, Junior Eric Nelson (Varsity High Jump Champion), Charlie Mesimore (Sophomore-Freshman 3200m Run Champion), and Wesley Laytham (Sophomore-Freshman Mile Champion) were awarded City Champion Plaques.  

VARSITY TEAM AWARDS
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Eric Nelson
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Maria Torres 

Mustang Award: Simon Vecchioni
Mustang Award: Adaora Achufusi 

Most Improved: Eric Nelson
Most Improved: Anna Parks 

Sportsmanship Award: Irfan Hussain
Sportsmanship Award: Jennifer Kane 

Academic Achievement Award: Simon Vecchioni, Jonathan Kittaka, Adam Swiatlowski
Academic Achievement Award: Jennifer Friedmann, Rachel Kittaka  

Senior Leadership Award: Santino Merino, Preston Buehrer
Senior Leadership Award: Rachel Kittaka, Kaitlin Renkosiak

Most Sophomore-Freshman points scored: Charlie Mesimore, Robin Doherty 

Most Varsity Points Scored by a Freshman: Wesley Laytham, Su Yang
Most Varsity Points Scored by a Sophomore: Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Bessie Nolan
Most Varsity Points Scored by a Junior: Eric Nelson, Maria Torres
Most Varsity Points Scored by a Senior: Santino Merino, Kelly Varney 

Cal Ripken, Jr. Award: Andrew Czyszczon
Cal Ripken, Jr. Award: Robin Doherty 

SOPHOMORE AWARDS
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Bessie Nolan 

Mustang Award: Cooper Eben
Mustang Award: Karen Li

Academic Award: Andrew Czyszczon

FRESHMAN AWARDS
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Charlie Mesimore, Wesley Laytham
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP): Nina Coomes 

Mustang Award: Hersh Perlmutter
Mustang Award: Robin Doherty

Academic Award: Miles Austrevich, Wesley Laytham, William Riley 
Academic Award: Robin Doherty, Karlyn Gehring

 At the conclusion of the banquet, the Seniors awarded the Northside coaching staff Watermelons for breaking the school record for being the best coaching staff. The coaching staff would like to thank the athletes for the Watermelons, gift certificates, and especially the Cards.

Mustangs in 2009!
-Head Coach Jon Gordon
-Associate Assistant Coach Chad Ware
-Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida, Jumps Coach Chris DuPont
-Hurdles/Jumps Coach Adrian Hunter, Sprints Coach David Diaz, Throws Coach Chuck Milbert

  On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Northside Junior Eric Nelson recieved a personal invitation from Meet Director John Mansoor to compete in the High Jump at the 49th Annual Addidas Golden West National Track & Field Invitational in Sacremento, California on June 7, 2008. The Addidas Golden West Invitational only invites high jumpers to the National Meet who have cleared 6'6 or higher. Athletes that have competed at the Golden West Track & Field Invitational include: Dwight Stones, Bob Beamon, Terry Bradshaw, and Bob Hayes. 

   Northside Freshman Wesley Laytham (4:42) and Freshman Charlie Mesimore (4:44) also received a personal invitational from Meet Director John Mansoor to compete in the Freshman Mile at the 49th Annual Addidas Golden West National Track & Field Invitational in Sacremento, California on June 7, 2008. The Addidas Golden West Invitational only invites Freshman Milers to the National Meet who have run 4:45 or under. Athletes that have competed in the Mile at the Golden West Invitational include: Steve Prefontaine, Marty Liquori, and Jim Ryun.

   Past participants of the Addidas Golden West Invitational have represented the United States in every Olympic Games since 1964 and have filled more than 150 positions on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team. Combined, they have won more than 75 Olympic medals, 40 of the gold!

   The Adidas Gold West Invitational is also used by Track and Field News magazine to determine its annual High School All-American list.

   The meet will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Folsom High School. The Track at Folsom High School is a state-of-the-art, all-weather 10-lane track with a CalTrax Polyurethane IMS surface, and is located north east of Sacramento, California.

   Unfortunately, the IHSA does not allow Northside or the coaching staff to be involved in the meet.

  In 2008, Northside Track Captain Eric Nelson broke 5 School Records (High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus, and Distance Medley Relay), and also set numerous records in the Weight room as well. Eric Nelson is the only athlete in Northside history to score over a 100 points in a season. Eric Nelson scored a school record 173.50 points in 2008!!! His season points total is even more amazing when you consider the fact that he does not start Track season until the conclusion of Basketball season. Nelson was also one of the most improved athletes on the Team, and literally broke a school record in almost every meet he competed at this season. Eric Nelson is also very dedicated to his teammates. From the moment his season started, Eric Nelson did not miss a single meet the entire season. The average Track athlete competes in 1-2 events per meet. Eric Nelson competed in the IHSA maxium of 4 events in every meet, unless the coaching staff held him out of an event. At Illinois Prep Top Times Invitational (Indoor State), immediatly after Medaling in the High Jump, Eric Nelson went straight to the starting line to help his teammates break a school record in the Distance Medley Relay. To help put the Northside Mustangs over the top this season, at almost every meet, Eric Nelson went from the Discus cage to the Shot Put Ring to the High Jump pit, and then went to the Triple Jump Pit and/or to the starting line for the 4x400m Relay to help his Team win the meet. In 2008, Eric Nelson won the High Jump Title, among other Track event titles, at the Fenton Classic, CPS Varsity Indoor Championship, Lane Tech Relays, Mather Classic, Ed Key Invitational, Windy City Relays (Broke Meet Record against top ranked out of State Competition from Michigan, and Indiana), New Trier Invitational,  Deerfield Classic, Spartan Relays, CPS Varsity Outdoor Championship, IHSA Deerfield Sectional Championship, and set several Meet and Stadium records as well.

  Since his Freshman year of high school, Eric Nelson has had the goal of qualifying for the IHSA State Championships, and on Friday, May 16, 2008, in Deerfield, Illinois, it became reality when he beat defending Sectional Champion Glenbrook South Senior Ryan Hindes for the 2008 IHSA Sectional Title to qualify for the State Championships!!!

  Thirty-Nine (39) Athletes qualified for the State Championships in the High Jump, and they are all great Athletes. To Qualify for the State Championships in High Jump, an athlete has to place in the Top 2 in their Sectional and/or jump the automatic qualifying height of 6'4.

  Nelson prepared for the State Meet, among other things, by training at Hanson Stadium High Jump Pit on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21. Middle School athletes gathered to watch every jump, and at the end of practice the bar was lowered to 4'0. Northside Throws Coach Chuck Milbert became inspired after watching Nelson train at heights of 6'2 and 6'4, and attempted to clear 4'0 but was unable to do it. All the Middle School athletes also attempted 4'0, but were unable to do it. Northside Jumps Coach Adrian Hunter showed he still has it, and cleared it on his first attempt. Eric Nelson then did back flips over it. 

  On Thursday, May 22, 2008, Eric Nelson, Philip Nelson, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida, Jumps Coach Adrian Hunter, and Jumps Coach Chris DuPont traveled to Arcola, Illinois in preparation of the State Championships. The Mustangs stayed at the Amish Country Inn, and dined at the best steak house in Arcola, Illinois, the Hen house.

 On Friday, May 23, 2008, the Mustangs traveled to O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois for the State Championships!!! The Stadium was filled to its capacity, and spectators, fans, and Teams, had to park over a half mile away from the Stadium because of the size of the sell-out crowd. Outside the Stadium, there was a large festival of Track & Field souvenir vendors, and food and beverage stands. Eric Nelson was given a State Qualifier Pin from the IHSA upon arrival, along with his High Jump #1738. State Meet Competition was delayed throughout the morning due to a combination of lightning and rain. The IHSA moved the High Jump Competition back and fourth between O'Brien Stadium, and Indoor Field House six times during the morning. A Team of 10 IHSA Officials blow dryed every inch of the high jump pit, and another Team of Officials used several other water removal devices, before they reached the conclusion it would be best to have the High Jump Prelims indoors.

  A minimum of 9 athletes make the Finals. To determine who makes the finals, three flights of 13 High Jumpers, warm-up at a height of 6'0, and jump at an opening height of 6'2. The cross bar then goes to 6'4, and then 6'5. If nine or more athletes do not clear 6'5, then all the athletes that clear 6'4 or higher are placed in the finals. In 2007, no one cleared 6'5 at the prelims, and 14 athletes made the finals with a Jump of 6'4.

 The flights were seeded with the athletes with the Best Sectional Performances placed in Flight one, and the next best in Flight 2, and the next best in Flight 3.

  In Flight one, going into the State Championship, every athlete cleared 6'4 or higher at IHSA Sectionals. It was by far the best flight in the meet. After warm-ups, the Cross bar was raised to the opening height of 6'2. All 13 athletes in the first flight cleared it.

  The Cross bar was then raised to 6'4. Warrenville South Sophomore Dan Hohenstein, East Moline Sophomore Michael Crabtree, Hindsdale South Senior Norman Frazier, made three outstanding attempts at 6'4, but were unable to clear it. The crowd applauded each athlete's efforts as they were eliminated from the competition.

   Northside Junior Eric Nelson cleared 6'4 on his second attempt. It was one of his best jumps of the season. Wheeling Senior Al Cherry cleared 6'4 on his third attempt. East St. Louis Senior Patrick Fenderson cleared 6'4 on his second attempt. McHenry Junior Ryan Michael cleared 6'4 on his second attempt. Buffalo Grove Junior Matt Newman cleared 6'4 on his second attempt. Community West Junior Troy Walls cleared 6'4 on his third attempt. Lincoln-Way East Senior Derek Severson cleared 6'4 on his first attempt. Naperville Central Junior Aaron Petty cleared 6'4 on his first attempt. Urbana Senior Mykhail Chambers cleared 6'4 on his first attempt. Springfield Lanphier Junior Cheldon Brown cleared 6'4 on his second attempt.

  The Cross bar was then raised to 6'5. Springfield Lanphier Junior Cheldon Brown cleared 6'5 on his third attempt. East St.Louis Senior Patrick Fenderson cleared 6'5 on his second attempt.  Lincoln Way East Senior Derek Severson cleared 6'5 on his second attempt. McHenry Junior Ryan Michel, Buffalo Grove Junior Matt Newman, Naperville Central Aaron Petty, Senior Mykhail Chambers, cleared 6'5 on their first attempt.

  Wheeling Senior Al Cherry, and Community West Junior Troy Walls made three outstanding attempts at 6'5, but did not clear it. Northside Junior Eric Nelson made three outstanding attempts at 6'5 and just missed clearing it on his final attempt.

   Only 7 athletes had cleared 6'5 in the first flight, and if less than 2 athletes in the two remaining flights are not able to clear 6'5, Eric Nelson would become the first athlete in Northside history to go to the State finals on Saturday, and the medal stand would be within reach.

    In the second flight of 13 athletes, only ONE athlete, Aurora West Sophomore Aviance King cleared 6'5. Eric Nelson was now only one flight away from going to the State Finals on Saturday.

    The Third flight, did not have any athletes that jumped higher than 6'2 at IHSA Sectionals, and it looked really good for Eric Nelson going into the last flight of the High Jump preliminary competition for him to make the Finals.

     The Northside coaching staff watched as the first 12 jumpers of the final 13 jumpers in the third and final flight were all eliminated, and only one athlete, remained in the competion, Rockford Jefferson Senior Kendrick Branch. Branch cleared 6'4 on his third attempt. The Cross bar was raised to 6'5. If Branch is unable to clear 6'5, Northside Junior Eric Nelson would go to the finals with the 9th spot, and the medal stand would be within reach. Rockford Jefferson Senior Kendrick Branch missed on his first attempt at 6'5. He then missed on his second attempt at 6'5. The final jump of the day had now arrived. If Branch misses, Nelson goes to the Finals. If Branch makes it, Nelson goes to the Finals next year. Rockford Jefferson Senior Kendrick Branch made an outstanding final jump and cleared 6'5 to make the finals. Northside Junior Eric Nelson finished in 10th place and had the greatest season of any athlete in the history of Northside in any sport. The experience at the State Championships was priceless for Eric Nelson, and with a PR of 6'6, he will be one of the favorites to contend for the State Title next year.

  In the Finals, on Saturday, May 24, 2008, Senior Mykhail Chambers won it with a jump of 6'8. Senior Derek Severson placed second with a jump of 6'8. Junior Matt Newman placed third with a jump of 6'7. Sophomore Patrick Fenderson placed fourth with a jump of 6'6. Junior Cheldron Brown placed fifth with a jump of 6'6. Junior Ryan Michael placed sixth with a jump of 6'5. Aurora West Sophomore Aviance King placed seventh with a jump of 6'4. Senior Kendrick Branch placed eighth with a jump of 6'4. Junior Aaron Petty placed ninth with a jump of 6'2.

 Coming soon: State Meet photos