CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 Northside had a BIG day in the 4x100m Relay. Northside Junior Steven Kataba, Junior Keith Jones, Junior Justin Washington, and Senior Tom Frejowski combined for an outstanding 4x100m Relay time of 47.35. It was the Mustangs fastest 4x100m Relay time since 2012 (47.34). The school record for the 4x100m Relay is 44.88 (2011). The World Record stands at 36.84, and was set by the Jamaican Team at the 2012 London Olympic games. Northside is now within 3 seconds of the School Record, and 11 seconds of the World Record.

 In the Varsity 4x100m Relay, Northside Junior Steven Kataba ran a 100m split of 12.11 on the first leg of the relay. Northside Junior Keith Jones ran a 100m split of 12.11 on the second leg of the relay. Northside Junior Justin Washington ran a 100m split of 10.13 on the third leg of the relay. Northside Senior Tom Frejowski anchored the Mustangs to sixth place overall to secure vital points with a 100m split of 12.36 for an official time of 47.35. Steven Kataba, Keith Jones, Justin Washington, and Tom Frejowski were awarded MEDALS for finishing in sixth place overall.

 In the Varsity 3200m run, Northside Senior Adrian Black dropped 21 seconds (10:40) from the Eric Nelson Classic with a season best time of 10:19.04 to finish in sixth place to complete the scoring. Adrian Black was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in sixth place overall. Adrian Black ran the first 1600m in 5:05, and then ran the final 1600m in 5:14 for an outstanding time of 10:19.04.

 Adrian Black trained at Northside during spring break, and has been able to compete at every meet during the outdoor season, and his strong performance at the Paul Gans Invitational is a good indication of great things to happen in future meets.

 Spring Break is one of most important training weeks of the Track & Field season. It has a major impact for the athletes that take advantage of it.

 Northside Junior Justin Washington awoke at dawn during spring break to be at Northside at 7 am everyday. River Park Track is approximately one mile from Northside College Prep. Washington needed 8-10 hurdles on the Track to train with everyday. Justin Washington carried Hurdles from Northside to River Park Track every morning at 7 am in preparation for Spring Break Practice. Athletes from other event groups didn't have to arrive at River Park Track for Spring Break Practice until 10 am. The hurdlers had to start at 7 am to get the equipment on the Track. Justin Washington's hard work paid off at the Niles West Paul Gans Invitational.

 At the Niles West Paul Gans Invitational, 20 hurdlers from ten different schools competed in the 110m Prelims, and only eight of them would qualify for the Finals, and then only six of them would reach the Medal Stand.

 Justin Washington QUALIFIED for the finals with an EIGHTH place finish in the 110m Hurdle Prelims with an official time of 17.43.

 In the Varsity 110m Hurdles Finals, Northside Junior Justin Washington dropped 0.56 of a second off his time from the Prelims (17.43) to finish in FIFTH place overall with a PERSONAL BEST time of 16.87. Justin Washington was awarded a MEDAL for finsihing in fifth place overall.

Justin Washington came into the Niles West Paul Gans Invitational with a career best 300m Hurdles time of 48.90.

 In the Varsity 300m Hurdles Finals, Northside Junior Justin Washington dropped 2.82 seconds off his best time (48.90) to win his heat, and finish in 12th overall with a PERSONAL BEST time of 46.08.

 Northside has a strong core group of Hurdlers, with Justin Washington, Garret Barch, Matt Osborne, Porter Abbey, Christian Guerrero, Asher Rappaport, Elias Decker, and Jack Nolan. The Hurdles will be a big event for Northside at every meet during the Outdoor Track season.

The Top seeds in the Varsity 800m run at the Paul Gans Invitational included Plainfield East Sergio Llanes (2:01.00), Huntley Keagan Smith (2:01.40), and Huntley Elijah Green (2:02.90).

 In the Varsity 800m run, Plainfield East Sergio Llanes won it with an official time of 2:01.02. Northside Senior Malcolm Grba ran the first 200m in 29.15 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 30.85 for a 400m split of 60 seconds, and then ran the next 200m in 31.39 seconds (1:31.39 600m split), and then ran the final 200m in a NEGATIVE split of 30.67 to finish in SECOND place with an outstanding time of 2:02.06. Grba dropped 2.51 seconds (2:04.57) for a season best time of 2:02.06. Malcolm Grba was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in SECOND place overall. Huntley Keagan Smith finished in third place with an official time of 2:05.03. Huntley Elijah Green finished in fourth place with an official time of 2:05.65. Antioch Dylan Duckworth finished in fifth place with an official time of 2:07.22. Prosser Alex Hernandez finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 2:07.42.

 During Spring Break, Malcolm Grba took a very important recruiting trip to NCAA Division I Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Grba has committed to run Cross Country and Track for the Tulane Green Wave. During his visit, Grba stayed with Alumni legend Pat Duffy, and simulated Northside Spring Break practices in New Orleans, and even ran 300m repeats on wooded trails. Grba came back from Spring Break in top condition, and was awesome at the Niles West Paul Gans Invitational.

 In the Varsity 4x200m Relay, Huntley won it with an official time of 1:30.80. Plainfield East finished in second place with an official time of 1:32.54. Northside Junior Steven Kataba ran the first 200m in 24.71, and made a nice exchange to Keith Jones. Northside Junior Keith Jones ran a 200m split of 24.66 on the second leg of the relay, and made a good exchange to Justin Washington. Northside Junior Justin Washington ran a 200m split of 24.61 on the third leg of the relay, and made a nice exchange to Philip Wdowiak. Northside Junior Philip Wdowiak ran an impressive 200m split of 23.03 to anchor the Chicago Northside Mustangs to THIRD place with an official time of 1:38.16. Niles West finished in fourth place with an official time of 1:42.79. Yorkville finishwed in fifth place with an official time of 1:44.72. Prosser finished in sixth place to complete the scoring with an official time of 1:47.08. Steven Kataba, Keith Jones, Justin Washington, and Philip Wdowiak were awarded MEDALS for finishing in THIRD place overall.