On Monday, August 20, 2007, after a meeting with the CPS Cross Country committee, the CPS Sports Administration announced that there will no longer be CPS Sectional meets to qualify for the City Championships, and that all Chicago Public Schools will be invited to compete for the City Championship.
It was also announced that in addition to the Freshman, Sophomore-Freshman, and Varsity divisions, there will be an open division for the Junior Varsity at the City Championships.
On Saturday, August 25, 2007, one day after leading the Mustangs Varsity and top JV, sophomore and Freshman athletes on a 7.5 Miles run with hill repeats in James Park, in Evanston, Illinois. Northside Assistant Coach Chad Ware traveled to Mahomet, Illinois for the Mahomet Half-Marathon.
Chad Ware Won the Mahomet Half-Marathon with a new course record of 1:11:58.8. Ware was awarded a plaque and prize money for his victory.
In 2006, the Northside Varsity Men placed 6th at the St.Patrick Invitational and 4th at the City Championships. This summer, the Varsity Men ran 250-650 Miles in preparation for the 2007 season, including six miles runs to breakfast, grueling hill workouts at Evanston's James Park, and intense weight training after every run.
On Wednesday, August 22, 2007, the Pioneer Press printed a Chicago Cross Country preview article, in which, Northside College Prep's Mens Team was not listed as a contender for the City Title. In Pioneer Press's defense, they had no knowledge of how hard the Mustangs have trained this summer.
On Monday, August 27, 2007, after a Team Pasta Party, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, Assistant Coaches Chad Ware and Jose Nebrida showed the Northside College Prep Cross Country Team the movie, "Running Brave" about Billy Mills upset victory in the 10,000 meter run in the 1964 Olympics. Prior to the Olympics, Billy Mills was not even ranked as the top american, and only Billy Mills himself knew how much his speed had improved from dedicated training.
On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the Northside Varsity Men Cross Country Team traveled to Schiller Woods for the St.Patrick Invitational. The Meet consisted of 17 schools, including host St.Patrick, Trinity, Fenwick, Resurrection, Northridge Prep, Notre Dame, Chicago International Charter, Ridgewood, Proviso West, Guerin Prep, Gordon Tech, Fenton, St.Ignatius, Marian Catholic, Whitney Young, and the defending City Champions, Mather.
The Northside Varsity Men Cross Country Team upset the defending City Champions, Mather by a score of 83-111 to place 2nd overall. Fenwick won the meet. In 98 degree heat, Notre Dame's Tom Berrian won individual honors. Mather's Ivan Coronel placed 2nd overall to earn a Medal, and lead the Rangers.
The Mustangs top 5 runners all finished within 30 seconds of their lead runner, which resulted in an awesome Team score. The Mustangs sixth and seventh runner also finished in front of several teams fifth man to push opposing Team scores back.
Northside Captain Jonathan Kittaka led the Mustangs and earned a Medal with an outstanding time of 17:14 to place 10th overall. Junior Jonathan Kittaka dropped 17 seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational.
Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss finished second for the Mustangs and 13th overall with an outstanding time of 17:22. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss dropped 4 minutes and six seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational.
Freshman Charlie Mesimore, in his first high school Cross Country race, finished third for the Mustangs and 19th overall with a personal best time of 17:35. Mesimore ran the 11th fastest time in Northside history.
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished fourth for the Mustangs and 20th overall with a personal best time of 17:40. Cooper Eben dropped 3 minutes and 40 seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational. Eben ran the 12th fastest time in Northside history.
Sophomore Jiasong Yang completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 21st overall with a personal best time of 17:43. Jiasong Yang dropped 3 minutes and 2 seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational. Yang ran the 13th fastest time in Northside history.
Freshman Wesley Laytham finished sixth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 18:38. Wesley Laytham secured vital points for the Mustangs by finishing in front of the opposing teams fifth man to push their team scores back. Laytham ran an outstanding meet.
Junior Simon Vecchioni finished seventh for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 21:07. Simon Vecchioni dropped a minute and 44 seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational!, despite severe dehydration on the final mile.
Senior Preston Buehrer, ranked among the top 15 returning Cross Country runners in Chicago, did not race in the meet due to recovery from an injury. Captain Preston Buehrer has not missed a practice this season, and has provided the Team with strong leadership.
The Mustangs were awarded a towering Second Place Trophy for their outstanding performance, and it will be displayed in the Principal's office on Wednesday, and then it will be displayed in the Athletic director's office on Thursday, before it is placed in the School Trophy case on Friday.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Northside Mustangs will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the Rebel Invitational. The meet will feature 28 Teams from Illinois and Wisconsin. It is one of the best race courses in the Nation. The course has been the home of the Footlocker Midwest Regional High School Cross Country Championships, and the U.S. National Cross Country Championships. A Team/Parent Tailgate party will follow the meet.
WIN = What's Important Now
In 2006, Whitney Young and the Northside College Prep Varsity Women were only CPS Womens Teams to advance to IHSA Sectionals as a Team. As a result, the Pioneer Press in an arcticle printed on August 22, 2007, picked Whitney Young and Northside College Prep as the favorites to contend for the City title in 2007.
On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the Northside Varsity Women traveled to Schiller Woods for the St.Patrick Invitational to take on host St.Patrick, Trinity, Mather, Chicago International Charter, Proviso West, Gordon Tech, St.Ignatius, Marian Catholic, Fenwick, Resurrection, Northridge Prep, Notre Dame, Ridgewood, Guerin Prep, Fenton, and Whitney Young.
In preparation for the 2007 season, the Whitney Young Girls Team ran a total of 4,000 miles during the summer, with their Varsity runners, running between 225 - 500 Miles. Whitney Young's dedication to summer training and daily practice showed at the St.Patrick Invitational. Whitney Young's Rachel Joravsky took her first step towards her season goal of an individual State Title in 2007 with a victory at the 2007 St.Patrick Invitational. Whitney Young won the St.Patrick Invitational. Fenton placed second at the St.Patrick Invitational, and Northside placed 3rd out of 17 Teams at the St.Patrick Invitational.
Northside Senior Rachel Kittaka led the Mustangs, and placed sixth overall and earned a medal with a time of 20:40. Kittaka ran 36 seconds slower than the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational, and has only attended 5 of the Mustangs first 11 practices due to summer camp and illness.
Northside Junior Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs and placed tenth overall to earn a medal with a time of 21:56. Zotti dropped 9 seconds from the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational.
Northside Junior Carmen Abelson finished third for the Mustangs and placed 13th overall with a time of 22:25. Abelson ran 16 seconds slower than the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational.
Northside Senior Julia Shimada finished fourth for the Mustangs placed 18th overall with an outstanding time of 22:36. Shimada is one of the most improved athletes on the team.
Northside Junior Anna Parks finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and placed 23rd overall with a time of 23:01. Parks ran 55 seconds slower than the 2006 St.Patrick Invitational, and has only attended 6 of the Mustangs first 11 practices due to a family vacation.
Northside Freshman Bessie Nolan finished sixth for the Mustangs and ran a personal best time of 23:33 to place 30th overall.
Senior Lena Guerriero finished seventh for the Mustangs and 34th overall with a time of 23:50.
The Mustangs are 14-2 to start the 2007 season!!! The Mustangs were awarded a towering Third Place Trophy for their outstanding performance. The Trophy will be displayed in the Principal's office on Wednesday. The Trophy will then be displayed in the Athletic Director's office on Thursday. On Friday, the Trophy will be placed in the School Trophy case.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Mustangs will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the Rebel Invitational. Northside Junior Varsity members that beat the Varsity times at the St.Patrick Invitational will run Varsity at the Rebel Invitational. The Rebel Invitational features 28 Teams from Illinois and Wisconsin. The course is home of the Footlocker High School Midwest Regional Championships and U.S. Nationals. The Junior Varsity Girls race (unlimited entries) will start at 9:45 am. The Freshman Boys race (unlimited entries) will start at 10:15 am. The Varsity Women (Top 8) will race at 10:45 am. The Varsity Men (Top 8) will race at 11:15 am. The Junior Varsity Boys (unlimited entries) will race at 11:45 am. The Mustangs will have a Team/Parent Tailgate party following the meet.
On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Cross Country traveled to Schiller Woods for the St.Patrick Invitational to take on 16 schools, including host St.Patrick, Trinity, Mather, Chicago International Charter, Proviso West, Gordon Tech, St.Ignatius, Marian Catholic, Fenwick, Resurrection, Northridge Prep, Notre Dame, Ridgewood, Guerin Prep, Fenton, and Whitney Young.
The Sophomore-Freshman Boys upset Mather 183-187 to place fifth overall, for a 12-4 start to the 2007 season! The Mustangs were lead by the one-two punch of Sophomore Forrest Cortes and Sophomore James Rey.
Sophomore Forrest Cortes led the Mustangs with a personal best time of 21:21 to place 27th overall.
Sophomore James Rey finished second for the Mustangs and placed 33rd overall with an outstanding time of 21:44.
Freshman Noel Lopez finished third for the Mustangs and placed 37th overall with a personal best time of 22:09.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished fourth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 22:19.
Sophomore Thomas Nguyen finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring with a outstanding time of 23:08.
Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon and Sophomore Kevin Jaburek showed great mental toughness battling dehydradation problems. Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon finished sixth for the Mustangs with a time of 24:23. Sophomore Kevin Jaburek finished seventh for the Mustangs with a time of 25:50.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Men Cross Country Team became the first Chicago Public School to travel to Kenosha, WI for the 20th Annual Rebel Invitational. The meet is the largest High School Cross Country Meet in Wisconsin, featuring 28 Teams from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The meet also provides for 8 runners in the Varsity race. The Kenosha course is also used for the Footlocker High School Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships, and the U.S. National Cross Country Championships.
The Mustangs conquered the hilly course, and upset suburban rival Libertyville and were the second best Team from Illinois in the meet, with Lake Zurich taking top honors. The Mustangs beat all of the Teams from Iowa, and posted 18 victories at the meet, including: Libertyville (IL), Warren Township (IL), Dubuque Senior (IA), Lake Geneva Badger (WI), Wauwatosa West (WI), Big Foot (WI), St.Thomas More (WI), New Berlin West (WI), Antoch (IL), Beaver Dam (WI), Brown Deer (WI), Union Grove (WI), Wilmot Union (WI), Milwaukee Thomas More (WI), Milwaukee Pius XI (WI), East Troy (WI), Greendale (WI), and Greenfield (WI).
The Mustangs are on pace to break the school record for Wins in a season (103) and more importantly, are on pace for a trip to the Class 3A State Championships in 2007.
The Mustangs were led by Captain Jonathan Kittaka. Kittaka dropped 9 Seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational, with a season best time three-mile time of 17:06 and a Personal best 5K time of 17:38. Kittaka earned a Medal by placing 22nd overall.
Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss finished second for the Mustangs and ran an outstanding time of 17:22 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 17:52. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was also the sixth fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished third for the Mustangs and ran a personal best time of 17:34 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 18:09. Charlie Mesimore was also the second fastest Freshman in the meet.
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished fourth for the Mustangs and ran an outstanding time of 18:05 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 18:40.
Sophomore Jiasong Yang completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 18:20 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 18:49.
Senior Harold Jaffe finished sixth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 19:05 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 19:38.
Freshman Wesley Laytham finished seventh for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 19:30 for three miles and a Personal Best 5K time of 20:03. Wesley Laytham was the fifth fastest Freshman in the meet, and secured the victory by finishing ahead of the fifth man from Wauwatosa West, Big Foot, St. Thomas More, New Berlin West, Antoch (IL), Beaver Dam, Brown Deer, Union Grove, and Wilmot Union.
Senior Santino Merino finished eighth for the Mustangs with a time of 21:10 for three miles, and a 5K time of 21:42. Merino earned his first Varsity letter in Cross Country.
The Mustangs are now 33-10 overall, with a record of 18-2 against Illinois High Schools, 14-8 against Wisconsin High Schools, and 1-0 against Iowa High Schools.
After the meet, the Northside Mustangs and Parents had a Team Tailgate Party, featuring five picnic tables of food and drink provided by the Northside Parents. The Tailgate Party was followed with several games of Ultimate Frisbee. A special thanks to all of the Northside parents for making it a memorable day for all the athletes, and coaching staff.
A special thanks to Northside Principal Barry Rodgers and Athletic Director Daisy Simbulan for making this trip to Wisconsin for the Northside Cross Country Team possible. The Mustangs next meet will take place at Horner Park (Montrose and California) in Chicago for the Gordon Tech Invitational on Saturday, September 8, 2007.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity Boys team traveled to Kenosha, WI for the 20th Annual Rebel Invitational. The meet is the largest meet in Wisconsin, and features teams from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It was the first scored meet that the Junior Varsity participated in this season. The Kenosha Course is also used for the Footlocker High School Midwest Championships in November, and U.S. Cross Country Nationals.
The meet featured 28 schools, including: Antioch (IL), Dubuque (IA), Kenosha Tremer, Milwaukee Thomas More, Warren Township (IL), West Bend West, Badger, East Troy, Lake Zurick (IL), New Berlin West, Waterford Union, Wilmot Union, Beaver Dam, Greendale, Libertyville (IL), Racine Horlock, Wauk. Catholic (WI), Big Foot (WI), Greenfield (WI), Manitowoc Lincoln (WI), Shorewood (WI), Waukesha West (WI), Brown Deer (WI), Highland Park (IL), Milwaukee Pius XI (WI), Union Grove (WI), and Wauwatosa West (WI).
The Junior Varsity Boys posted 17 victories, and were the third best Team from Illinois in the meet, with Libertyville taking top honors.
The Mustangs were led by Junior Simon Vecchioni. Vecchioni placed 36th overall. Simon Vecchioni dropped one minute and 22 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a Personal Best time of 19:45 for three-miles, and a Personal Best 5K time of 20:16.
Senior Faraz Khan finished second for the Mustangs and 84th overall. Faraz Khan dropped 1 minute and 41 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a three-mile time of 20:49 and a 5K Personal Best time of 21:24.
Senior Brad Eben finished third for the Mustangs and 86th overall. Brad Eben ran a three mile time of 20:50 and a 5K time of 21:29.
Senior John Mussman finished fourth for the Mustangs and 92nd overall. John Mussman dropped 58 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a Personal Best time of 21:10 and a 5K Personal Best time of 21:46.
Senior James Casper-Shipp completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 95th overall. James Casper-Shipp dropped 18 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a three-mile time of 21:12 and a 5K time of 21:48.
Sophomore Forrest Cortes finished sixth for the Mustangs and 104th overall. Forrest Cortes dropped 2 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a three-mile Personal Best time of 21:19 and a 5K Personal Best time of 21:57.
Sophomore James Rey finished seventh for the Mustangs and 107th overall. James Rey dropped 24 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a three-mile time of 21:20 and a 5K time of 22:00.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished eighth for the Mustangs and 125th overall. Ted Kalaw ran a three-mile time of 21:52 and a 5K time of 22:30.
Sophomore Kevin Jaburek finished ninth for the Mustangs and 134th overall. Kevin Jaburek dropped 3 minutes and 40 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a three-mile time of 22:10 and outkicked Antioch's Donnie Rowden to the finish for a 5K time of 22:43.
Senior Irfan Hussain finished tenth for the Mustangs and 139th overall. Irfan Hussain ran a three-mile time of 22:12 and a 5K time of 22:48.
Sophomore Peter Wilk finished eleventh for the Mustangs and 155th overall. Peter Wilk dropped 1 minute from the St.Patrick Invitational for a Personal Best three-mile time of 22:53 and a Personal Best 5K time of 23:27.
Sophomore Andrew Czyszczson finished twelfth for the Mustangs and 169th overall. Andrew Czyszczon dropped 1 minute and 8 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a Personal Best three-mile time of 23:15 and a Personal Best 5k time of 23:54.
Junior Nathan Michaelson finished 13th for the Mustangs and 182nd overall. Nathan Michaelson ran a three-mile time of 23:37 and a 5K time of 24:12.
Junior Rafael Confino finished 14th for the Mustangs and 190th overall. Rafael Confino ran a three-mile time of 24:07 and a Personal Best 5k time of 24:47.
Junior Coleman Gailloreto finished 15th for the Mustangs and 191st overall. Coleman Gailloreto ran a three-mile time of 24:08 and a 5K time of 24:48.
Sophomore Sam Olver finished 16th for the Mustangs and 224th overall. Sam Olver ran a three-mile time of 28:34 and a Personal Best 5k time of 29:00.
The Mustangs will travel to Horner Park on Saturday, September 8, 2007 for the Gordon Tech Invitational.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Northside College Prep Freshman Boys team traveled to Kenosha, WI for the 20th Annual Rebel Invitational. The meet is the largest meet in Wisconsin, and features teams from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and the meet provided for a Freshman only division. It was the first meet that Mustangs participated in this season that had a Freshman Boys division. The race distance for the Freshman Boys was 4k (2.48m). The Kenosha Course is also used for the Footlocker High School Midwest Championships in November, and U.S. Cross Country Nationals.
The Freshman Mustangs were the third best Team from Illinois, with Libertyville taking top honors. The Mustangs finished sixth overall, and posted 22 victories!, for a 22-5! start to the 2007 Freshman Cross Country season.
The Mustangs were led by the 1-2 punch of Freshman Noel Lopez and Freshman Jonathan Kriston.
Freshman Noel Lopez ran the first 1.24 miles in 8:39, and ran negative splits with a 8:19 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 16:58 to finish 26th overall.
Freshman Jonathan Kriston ran the first 1.24 miles in 8:34, and also ran negative splits with a 8:27 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 17:01 to finish second for the Mustangs and 27th overall.
Freshman Roldan Alegre ran the first 1.24 miles in 8:33, and ran 8:34 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 17:07 to finish third for the Mustangs and 31st overall.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski ran the first 1.24 miles in 9:00 and ran negative splits with a 8:55 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 17:55 to finish fourth for the Mustangs and 46th overall.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari ran the first 1.24 miles in 9:01 and 9:24 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 18:25 to finish fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring, and 59th overall.
Freshman Miles Austrevich ran the first 1.24 miles in 10:11, and ran negative splits with a 9:11 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:22 to finish sixth for the Mustangs and 76th overall.
Freshman Richard Morales ran the first 1.24 miles in 9:09, and 10:14 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:24 to finish seventh for the Mustangs and 78th overall.
Freshman Luis Gaytan ran the first 1.24 miles in 10:12, and ran negative splits with a 9:46 for the final 1.24 miles, for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:58 to finish eighth for the Mustangs and 84th overall.
Freshman Alfredo Almaraz outkicked Wauwatosa West Thaddeus Justice to the finish for a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 26:42 to finish ninth for the Mustangs and 101st overall.
A special thanks to Northside Principal Barry Rodgers and Athletic Director Daisy Simbulan for making this trip to Wisconsin for the Northside Cross Country Team possible. The Mustangs next meet will take place at Horner Park (Montrose and California) in Chicago for the Gordon Tech Invitational.
The Mustangs conquered the hilly course, were the fifth best Team from Illinois in the meet, with Libertyville taking top honors. The Mustangs beat all of the Teams from Iowa, and posted 13 victories at the meet, including: Dubuque Senior (IA), Lake Geneva Badger (WI), Big Foot (WI), Antoch (IL), Brown Deer (WI), Union Grove (WI), Wilmot Union (WI), Milwaukee Thomas More (WI), Milwaukee Pius XI (WI), East Troy (WI), Greendale (WI), Greenfield (WI), and Manitowoc Lincoln (WI).
Northside Captain Rachel Kittaka led the Mustangs with a NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 16:22 for 4k (2.48m). Senior Rachel Kittaka earned a Medal by placing 21st overall. Rachel Kittaka ran 8:12 for the first 1.24 miles, and a negative split of 8:10 on the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 16:22.
Junior Anna Parks finished second for the Mustangs and 75th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 17:30. Anna Parks ran 8:58 for the first 1.24 miles, and a negative split of 8:32 on the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 17:30.
Captain Ani Zotti finished third for the Mustangs and 82nd overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 17:44. Junior Ani Zotti ran 8:52 for the first 1.24 miles, and an even split of 8:52 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 17:44.
Senior Lena Guerriero finished fourth for the Mustangs and 113th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 18:27. Lena Guerriero ran 9:22 for the first 1.24 miles, and a negative split of 9:04 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 18:27.
Freshman Su Yang finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring, and 126th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 18:57. Su Yang ran 9:27 for the first 1.24 miles, and a 9:30 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 18:57.
Captain Julia Shimada finished sixth for the Mustangs and 127th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:00. Senior Julia Shimada ran 9:30 for the first 1.24 miles, and an even split of 9:30 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 19:00.
Sophomore Bessie Nolan finished seventh for the Mustangs and 129th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:03. Bessie Nolan ran 9:24 for the first 1.24 miles, and 9:39 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 19:03.
Junior Elizabeth Lewis finished eighth for the Mustangs and 149th overall with a Personal Best 4k (2.48m) time of 19:57. Elizabeth Lewis ran 9:46 for the first 1.24 miles, and 10:11 for the final 1.24 miles, for a total time of 19:57.
The Lady Mustangs are the defending Gordon Tech Invitational Championships, and will defend their title on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at Horner Park (California and Montrose) in Chicago, Illinois.
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity Girls Team traveled to Kenosha, WI for the 20th Annual Rebel Invitational. The meet was the largest High School Cross Country Meet in Wisconsin, and featured Teams from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It was the first scored meet of the season for the Northside Junior Varsity Girls squad.
The Mustangs posted 14 victories, and were led by Junior Adaora Achufusi. Adaora Achufusi finished first for the Mustangs and placed 120th overall and ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 20:28.
Junior Jennifer Friedman finished second for the Mustangs and 136th overall. Jennifer Friedman ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 20:47.
Freshman Karlyn Gehring finished third for the Mustangs and 137th overall. Karlyn Gehring ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 20:48.
Junior Maria Zdunek finished fourth for the Mustangs and 168th overall. Maria Zdunek ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 21:48.
Sophomore Jessica Tapia finished fifth to complete the scoring for the Mustangs and was 195th overall. Jessica Tapia ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 22:43.
Sophomore Mahaim Haider finished sixth for the Mustangs and was 224th overall. Mahaim Haider ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 24:42.
Freshman Nancy Quan finished seventh for the Mustangs and was 233rd overall. Nancy Quan ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 27:40.
Junior Jennifer Mensah finished eighth for the Mustangs and was 236th overall. Jennifer Mensah ran a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 29:01.
Senior Omandra Zamora finished ninth for the Mustangs and was 237th overall. Omandra Zamora received a loud ovation from the crowd, and had a nice finish for a personal best 4k (2.48m) time of 33:24.
On Tuesday, September 4, 2007, the Northside Mustangs Varsity Cross Country Team ran three Mile repeats that would have made American High School Record Holder Alan Webb proud. It was the fastest set of Mile Repeats by a Varsity squad in the history of Northside Prep.
1 2 3
Coach Chad Ware 4:49 4:51 4:53
Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss 4:49 4:51 4:53
Jonathan Kittaka 4:52 5:00 5:07
Charlie Messimore 5:04 5:12 5:10
Cooper Eben 5:06 5:26 5:27
Jiasong Yang 5:09 5:31 5:47
Wesley Laytham X 5:42 5:56
Simon Vecchioni 5:51 6:21 X
Craig Melhuse 6:08 6:09 6:25
Santino Merino 5:53 6:55 6:54
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Women Cross Country Team traveled to Horner Park in Chicago, Illinois for the Gordon Tech Invitational. The Meet featured 6 schools in the Women division, including Loyola, Northside College Prep, Lake View, Noble Street, Rauner, and host Gordon Tech. The Mustangs showed great depth and determination to win the 2007 Gordon Tech Invitational. A perfect score in Cross Country is 15. The Mustangs won the 2007 Gordon Tech Invitational over runner-up Loyola with a score of 19! It was the largest margin of victory in the history of the Gordon Tech Invitational.
The Mustangs were led by Captain Rachel Kittaka. Kittaka went out in 6:37 for the first mile. Senior Rachel Kittaka showed great determination and ran aggressive race. Kittaka went through two miles in 13:27, and won the Gordon Tech Invitational with an Outstanding time of 20:38. Kittaka dropped 2 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational. Kittaka was awarded a Medal and a Plaque at an Awards Ceremony that followed the meet at the base of Horner Park Hill for winning the 2007 Gordon Tech Invitational. Rachel Kittaka ran 425 Miles during the summer in preparation for the 2007 Cross Country season.
A year ago, Ani Zotti finished fifth overall in the Gordon Tech Invitational. In 2007, Captain Ani Zotti finished second for the mustangs and second overall with an outstanding time of 21:35. Junior Ani Zotti went out in 6:45 for the first mile. Zotti went through two miles in 14:10, and finished second overall in the Gordon Tech Invitational with an Outstanding time of 21:35. Zotti dropped 21 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational. Ani Zotti was awarded a Medal and a Plaque for finishing 2nd overall in the 2007 Gordon Tech Invitational.
Junior Carmen Abelson finished third for the Mustangs and third overall with an outstanding time of 21:43. Carmen Abelson went out in 6:50 for the first mile. Abelson went through two miles in 14:14, and finished third overall in the Gordon Tech Invitational with an Outstanding time of 21:43. Abelson dropped 42 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational. Carmen Abelson was awarded a Medal and a Plaque for finishing 3rd overall in the 2007 Gordon Tech Invitational.
Loyola's front runners took places fourth and fifth in the meet.
Junior Anna Parks finished fourth for the Mustangs and sixth overall with an outstanding time of 22:40. Parks dropped 21 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational. Anna Parks was awarded a Medal for finishing 6th overall!
Senior Lena Guerriero finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and seventh overall with an outstanding time of 23:00. Lena Guerriero dropped 50 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational. Guerriero was awarded a Medal for finishing 7th overall!
Captain Julia Shimada finished sixth for the Mustangs and ninth overall with a time of 23:14. Junior Julia Shimada was awarded a Medal for finishing 9th overall!
Freshman Su Yang finished seventh for the Mustangs and 12th overall with a time of 23:46. Su Yang was awarded a Medal for finishing 12th overall!
All 7 Northside Varsity athletes earned a Medal in the meet!!! The Mustangs travel to Legion Park on Tuesday to take on Chicago rivals Lane Tech and Mather.
WIN = What's Important Now?
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Mens Cross Country Team traveled to Horner Park in Chicago, Illinois for the Gordon Tech Invitational to take on 16 schools, including: Leo, Latin, Mt. Carmel, Northridge Prep, Loyola, Fenton, St. Ignatius, Fenwick, Propset, Providence St. Mel, Rickover, Niles West, St. Benedict, Lake View, and host Gordon Tech. The course was mostly grass, and featured an uphill finish.
The favorites going into the meet were 18th state ranked Oak Park Fenwick, and 21st state ranked Prospect, and Niles West High School. Distance powerhouse Fenton came into the meet with the fastest frontrunner, and St.Ignatius was also considered a contender with one of the tightest packs in the state between their first man and fifth man. Loyola was also a contender, and has been a fine team, year after year. Going into the meet, the Mustangs best finish ever at the Gordon Tech Invitational had been fifth place.
The Northside Varsity Women set the tone for the day early, by knocking off Loyola to win the Invitational. Following the Varsity Women's race, the Varsity Men approached the crowded start line, sixteen teams deep, to find their allotted space on the start line, which was box six, right next to 21st state ranked Prospect and distance powerhouse Fenton. Could the Mustangs contend for the Invitational title against state ranked Teams? YES! The Mustangs ran their BEST meet of the season, and are now one of the early favorites for IHSA Regional Championships.
The meet had the closet finish in the history of the Gordon Tech Invitational. Although Fenton had the individual Champion, and St. Ignatius had a tight pack at the finish, the Mustangs had four medal winners (6th, 7th, 13th, 14th), and their top six athletes (21st, 22nd) all finished in the Top 22 out of a field of 112 runners, and the Mustangs top six athletes were also within 52 seconds of their front runner. As soon as the race ended, it was clear that the Team scores were tight and that Northside College Prep, Fenton, and St.Ignatius knocked off 18th state ranked Fenwick, 21st state ranked Prospect, Niles West High School, and Loyola. The only question that remained was who won the meet? By the slimist of margins, Fenton won the meet with 59 points, St. Ignatius placed second with 60 points, and the Northside College Prep Mustangs finished third with 61 points! In 2006, the Mustangs scored 156 points at the same meet. In 2007, the Mustangs improved by 95 points to place third overall with 61 points!!! The Varsity Men also improved their season record to 47-12!!!. The Mustangs are also 32-4 against Illinois High School Teams!!!
The Mustangs were led by Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss droped 24 seconds from the Rebel Invitational for a Personal Best time of 16:58 to place sixth overall. At a cermony that took place after the meet, at the top of Horner Park Hill, Cuit Pineda Youniss was awarded a Medal from former Illinois State Mile Champion Elliot Knott, for placing sixth overall. Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran the ninth fastest time in Northside history!!!
Captian Jonathan Kittaka finished second for the Mustangs and seventh overall with an outstanding time of 17:10. Junior Jonathan Kittaka was awarded a Medal for placing seventh overall.
Lake View's Alex Agafonov, one of the top runners in Chicago, ran an outstanding race to place 12th overall.
Northside Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and earned a Medal by placing 13th overall with a Personal Best time of 17:27. Cooper Eben ran even splits on the final two miles and dropped 38 seconds from the Rebel Invitational for a Personal Best time of 17:27. Cooper Eben ran 482 Miles during the summer, in addition to running in the pool. Eben is one of the most improved athletes on the Team.
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs and earned a Medal by placing 14th overall with a Personal Best time of 17:28. Mesimore has run a PR in every meet this season.
Freshman Wesley Laytham completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 21st overall with a Personal Best time of 17:48. Wesley Laytham dropped a minute and 42 seconds from the Rebel Invitational. Wesley Laytham also ran the 14th fastest time in Northside history!!!
Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 22nd overall with an outstanding time of 17:50. Jiasong Yang dropped 30 seconds from the Rebel Invitational! Jiasong Yang ran 501 Miles during the summer, and is one of the most improved athletes on the Team.
Senior Harold Jaffe finished seventh for the Mustangs and 41st overall with an outstanding time of 18:49. Harold Jaffe dropped 16 seconds from the Rebel Invitational!
Prior to the Meet, the IHSA announced the Mustangs Regional Championship Meet will take place in Oak Park on October 20, 2007 and will consist of Chicago Mortion, Chicago Foreman, Chicago Kelvyn Park, Chicago Little Village, Chicago Mather, Chicago Northside College Prep, Chicago Schurz, Leyden High School, Proviso East, Oak Park Fenwick, Oak Park River Forest, and River Forest Trinity High School. The Mustangs are one of the top ranked teams in their Region.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2007, the Mustangs will take on IHSA Regional rival Mather, and IHSA Sectional rivals Lane Tech and Whitney Young among others, in a two mile race at Legion Park. Medals will be awarded to the top 10 Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in the meet.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity Boys Cross Country Team traveled to Horner Park for the Gordon Tech Invitational. The meet featured a field of 16 Teams. The race distance was 2.0 Miles with an uphill finish.
The Mustangs were lead by the one-two punch of Junior Simon Vecchioni and Senior Santino Merino. Simon Vecchioni placed 15th overall with an outstanding time 12:22. Santino Merinto finished 22nd overall with an outstanding time of 12:40.
Senior John Mussman finished third for the Mustangs and 25th overall with an outstanding time of 12:59.
Junior Craig Melhuse finished fourth for the Mustangs and 26th overall with a personal best time of 13:00.
Senior James Casper-Shipp completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 28th overall with a time of 13:06.
Senior Faraz Khan finished sixth for the Mustangs and 31st overall with a time of 13:10.
Senior Brad Eben finished seventh for the Mustangs and 32nd overall with a time of 13:13.
Senior Irfan Hussain finished eighth for the Mustangs and 33rd overall with a time of 13:15.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished ninth for the Mustangs and 34th overall with a time of 13:21.
Junior Rafael Confino finished tenth for the Mustangs and 39th overall with a personal best time of 13:27.
Junior Robby Loanzon finished 11th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 14:22.
Junior Coleman Gailloreto finished 12th for the Mustangs with a time of 14:26.
Junior Adrian Bonifacio finished 13th for the Mustangs with a time of 14:32.
Junior Norman Lee finished 14th for the Mustangs with a time of 15:49.
Senior Vinh Nguyen finished 15th for the Mustangs with a time of 16:06.
Junior Michael Tran finished 16th for the Mustangs with a time of 16:56.
The Mustangs will travel to Legion Park on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, for the Mather Classic.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys traveled to Horner Park for the Gordon Tech Invitational. The meet featured 16 schools, and the race distance was 2.0 miles with an uphill finish.
The Mustangs were lead by Sophomore Forrest Cortes. Forrest Cortes showed great determination running the first mile in 6:26, and finishing with a 6:37, for a personal best time of 13:03! Cortes dropped 16 seconds off his PR.
Sophomore Kevin Jaburek finished second for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:10.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:14. Sieminski dropped 44 seconds off his PR!
Freshman Erik Zuehlke finished fourth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:16.
Freshman Noel Lopez completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:17.
Sophomore James Rey finished sixth for the Mustangs with a time of 13:25.
Freshman Rhiday Pandya finished seventh for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:42.
Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon finished eighth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:43.
Sophomore Thomas Nguyen, on his birthday, finished ninth for the Mustangs with a time of 13:55.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished tenth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 14:02.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari (14:10), Freshman Jonathan Kriston (14:16), Freshman Luis Gaytan (14:31), Sophomore Neal Capapas (15:30), Sophomore Sam Olver (16:05), Sophomore Neibu Tadele (16:07), and Freshman Alfredo Almaraz (21:35) also competed for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Legion Park on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 for the Mather Classic.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity girls cross country Team traveled to Horner Park for the Gordon Tech Invitational. The meet featured six teams in the J.V. Girls division, and the race distance was 2.0 miles, with an uphill finish.
Sophomore Bessie Nolan led the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 14:47.
Junior Elizabeth Lewis finished second for the Mustangs with a time of 15:17.
Junior Adaora Achufusi finished third for the Mustangs with a time of 15:26.
Freshman Karlyn Gehring finished fourth the Mustangs with a Personal best time of 15:48. Gehring dropped 14 seconds off her PR!
Junior Jennifer Friedmann completed the scoring by finihing fifth for the Mustangs with a time of 16:05.
Junior Maria Zdunek (16:30), and Sophomore Jessica Tapia (17:38) finished sixth and seventh respectively for the Mustangs.
Junior Katherine Ceisel (17:59), Sophomore Mahaim Haider (18:32), Junior Dashiell Bark-Huss (18:35), Junior Jennifer Mensah (22:22), Freshman Lily Ho (22:28), and Senior Omandra Zamora (24:20) also competed for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Legion Park in Chicago, Illinois on the corner of Brywn Myer and Kedzie for the Mather Classic on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2007, the Northside Varsity Men Cross Country Team traveled to Legion Park in Chicago, Illinois for 2007 Mather Invitational. The Meet featured 16 Teams, and featured unlimited entries in the Varsity division, and there were over 500 runners on the starting line.
The Varsity Men WON the Mather Invitational, and improved their season record to 62-12!!!. The Mustangs are also 47-4 against Illinois High School Teams!!! The Meet featured the following schools: Northside College Prep (29), Whitney Young (50), Lane Tech (87), Mather (135), Lake View (144), Noble Street (171), Von Steuben (199), Taft (221), Schruz (224), Marshall (271), Foreman, CICS Northtown, Saint Benedict, Douglas Academy, Morgan Park, and Regional rival Little Village.
Whitney Young's Julian Deville won the meet with a time of 10:15.
The Mustangs were led by Captain Jonathan Kittaka. Junior Jonathan Kittaka went out in 5:03 for the first mile, and finished with a 5:17 final mile, for a personal best time of 10:20 to finish second overall. Kittaka dropped 9 seconds off his PR, and was awarded a Medal for being the fastest Junior in the meet.
Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss went out in 5:08 for the first mile, and finished with a 5:15 final mile, for an outstanding time of 10:23 to tie his PR and finish second for the Mustangs and third overall. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was awarded a Medal for being the fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 10:37. Eben dropped 11 seconds off his PR, and was awarded a Medal for being the second fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 10:42. Mesimore was awarded a Medal for being the second fastest Freshman in the meet.
Freshman Wesley Laytham finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 10:47. Laytham dropped 20 seconds off his PR, and was awarded a Medal for being the third fastest Freshman in the meet.
Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 10:50. Yang dropped 11 seconds of his PR, and was awarded a Medal for being the third fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Senior Harold Jaffe finished seventh for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 11:24. Jaffe dropped 14 seconds off his PR, and was awarded a Medal for being the ninth fastest Senior in the meet.
Junior Simon Vecchioni finished eighth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 11:44. Vecchioni dropped 38 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational, and was awarded a Medal for being the tenth fastest Junior in the meet.
Senior Santino Merino finished ninth for the Mustangs with a Personal best time of 12:20. Merino dropped 20 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Senior John Mussman finished tenth for the Mustangs with a Personal best time of 12:23. Mussman dropped 36 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Senior Brad Eben finished eleventh for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:24. Eben dropped 49 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Freshman Noel Lopez finished twelfth for the Mustangs with a Personal best time of 12:30. Noel Lopez was awarded a Medal for being the eighth fastest Freshman in the meet. Lopez dropped 47 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Senior Faraz Khan finished 13th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:31. Khan dropped 39 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Sophomore Forrest Cortes finished 14th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:32. Cortes dropped 31 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Senior James Casper-Shipp finished 15th for the Mustangs with a time of 12:36.12. Casper-Shipp dropped 30 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Freshman Dominc Sieminski finished 16th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:36.81. Freshman Dominic Sieminski was awarded a Medal for being the ninth fastest Freshman in the meet. Sieminski dropped 38 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Freshman Erik Zuhlke finished 17th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:52.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished 18th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:59. Kalaw dropped 22 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Junior Robby Loanzon finished 19th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:03. Loanzon dropped 1 minute and 19 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!!!
Sophomore James Rey finished 20th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:06.
Sophomore Kevin Jaburek, on his birthday, finished 21st for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:07. Jaburek dropped 3 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational.
Senior Irfan Hussain finished 22nd for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:12.
Junior Rafael Confino finished 23rd for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:17.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished 24th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:21. Austrevich dropped 41 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!
Freshman Fahad Sarvari finished 25th for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 13:27. Sarvari dropped 43 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!
Freshman Roldan Alegre (13:28), Freshman Luis Gaytan (13:29), Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon (13:30), Sophomore Peter Wilk (13:37), Freshman Jonathan Kriston (13:39), Junior Coleman Gailloreto (13:49), Junior Adrian Bonifacio (13:50), Junior Jonathan Que (13:51), Junior Brian Chhun (14:07), Sophomore Thomas Nguyen (14:08), Junior Andy Gao (14:32), Senior Arnold Evia (14:46), Sophomore Neibu Tadele (14:56), Senior Vinh Nguyen (15:06), Junior Norman Lee (15:08), and Sophomore Neal Capapas (15:12) also competed for the Mustangs.
Freshman Alfredo Almaraz ran a personal best time of 18:41. Almarez dropped 2 minutes and 54 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!!!
The Mustangs will travel to Adler Park in Libertyville on Saturday, September 15, 2007 to take on the best competition in the State, including IHSA Sectional Rivals New Trier, Glenbrook North, Loyola, among others.
In Alumni news, Joseph Terdik, Northside School record holder in the Mile (4:37), has transfered from Swathmore to the University of Chicago, and the Mustangs are looking forward to seeing him run for the Maroons.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2007, the Northside Varsity Women Cross Country Team traveled to Legion Park on the conrner of Kedzie and Bryn Mawr ave in Chicago, Illinois for the 2007 Mather Invitational. The meet featured 16 teams, and unlimited entries on the Varsity level. Medals were awarded to the Top 10 Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in the meet.
The Mustangs came in second place to top ranked Whitney Young, and posted victories over Lane Tech, Mather, Marshall, Morgan Park, Lake View, Von Streuben, Taft, Schurz, Noble Street, Little Village, Foreman, CICS, Kelvyn Park, and Saint Benedict, to improve their season record to 46-17 overall, and 34-7 against Illinois High Schools.
Whitney Young Sophomore Rachel Javsky won the meet with an outstanding time of 12:00.
Northside Captain Rachel Kittaka led the Mustangs by finishing fourth overall with an outstanding time of 12:38. Kittaka was awarded a Medal as the fastest Senior in meet.
Junior Carmen Abelson finished second for the Mustangs and seventh overall with an outstanding time of 12:59. Abelson was awarded a Medal as the second fastest Junior in the meet.
Junior Anna Parks finished third for the Mustangs and eighth overall with an outstanding time of 13:07. Parks was awarded a Medal as the third fastest Junior in the meet.
Captain Ani Zotti finished fourth for the Mustangs and tenth overall with an outstanding time of 13:20. Zotti dropped 11 seconds from the Mustangs August 21, 2007 two mile time trial. Junior Ani Zotti was awarded a Medal as the fourth fastest Junior in the meet.
Senior Lena Guerriero completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 14th overall with an outstanding time of 13:49. Guerriero dropped 17 seconds from the Mustangs August 21, 2007 two mile time trial. Lena Guerriero was awarded a Medal as the second fastest Senior in the meet.
Sophomore Bessie Nolan finished sixth for the Mustangs and 15th overall with a personal best time of 13:50. Nolan ran negative splits on her final mile, and dropped 22 seconds from the Mustangs August 21, 2007 two mile time trial! Bessie Nolan was awarded a Medal as the sixth fastest Sophomore in the meet. Bessie Nolan will run Varsity for the Mustangs at the Libertyville Invitational.
Freshman Su Yang finished seventh for the Mustangs and 19th overall with a personal best time of 14:08. Yang dropped 25 seconds from the Mustangs August 21, 2007 two mile time trial. Su Yang was awarded a Medal as the fourth fastest Freshman in the meet. Su Yang will run Varsity for the Mustangs at the Libertyville Invitational.
Senior Julia Shimada ran a time of 14:23 to place 21st overall.
Junior Adaora Achufusi dropped 42 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational for a persona best time of 14:44 to place 27th overall. Achufusi was awarded a medal as the eighth fastest Junior in the meet.
Freshman Karlyn Gehring dropped one minute and 3 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational for a personal best time of 14:45 to place 28th overall. Gehring was awarded a medal as the sixth fastest Freshman in the meet.
Junior Elizabeth Lewis dropped 31 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational for an outstanding time of 14:46 to place 30th overall. Lewis was awarded a medal as the ninth fastest Junior in the meet.
Weronuka Zuczek (15:18), Maria Zdunek (15:32), Merita Bushi (15:51), Karen Li (16:24), Jessica Tapia (16:52), Katherine Ceisel (16:58), Mahaim Haider (17:06), Dashiel Bark-Huss (17:51), AJ Farkas (18:28), Lily Ho (20:02), Jennifer Mensah (20:46) and Omanda Zamora (23:06) also competed for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Adler Park on Saturday, September 15, 2007 for the Libertyville Invitational to take on host Liberyville, Loyola, New Trier, and Glenbrook North, among others.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside Varsity Mens Cross Country Team traveled to Adler Park, in Libertyville, Illinois for the 2007 Libertyville Invitational. The meet featured 15 Teams, including New Trier, Glenbrook North, Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Fremd, St. Viator, Vernon Hills, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Lockport, Racine Case, Loyola, Maine West, Northside College Prep, and host Libertyville.
The Libertyville Invitational is one of the most competitive meets in the state, and has a very challenging course consisting of several grass hills, and mud hills throughout the course. Several college coaches scout the Libertyville Invitational annually because of the depth of the competition. Prior to the meet, only two athletes in Northside history had ever broken 17 minutes on the course and the Mustangs had never placed higher than tenth at the Libertyville Invitational.
The Mustangs goal going into the meet was to contend with IHSA Sectional rival Glenbrook North. This would be no easy task, because the Glenbrook North Spartans had put several runners under 17 minutes this season. The Mustangs odds of beating the Spartans became even greater upon arrival, after learning Northside Freshman Charlie Mesimore was sick. Mesimore was held out of the meet by Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon as a precautionary measure.
The Mustangs responded by running their best meet of the season, and posted victories over Glenbrook North, Libertyville, Racine Case, Saint Viator, Rolling Meadows, Vernon Hills, Lockport, and Maine West.
Northside Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran toe to toe with New Trier's Kevin Armstrong and passed Hoffman Estates on the final hill to lead the Mustangs. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss went out in 5:20 for the first mile, and then ran a 5:40 second mile, and then showed pure guts and determination by running negative splits on his final mile with a 5:38 for a personal best time of 16:38 to place 27th overall. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss dropped 20 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational and ran the eighth fastest time in Northside history.
Northside Captain Jonathan Kittaka finished second for the Mustangs and outkicked Loyola's Patrick Tobin to the finish to place 30th overall with a season best time of 16:41. Kittaka went out in 5:20 for the first mile, and then ran a 5:40 second mile, and then ran near even-splits on the final mile with a 5:41 for an outstanding time of 16:41. Junior Jonathan Kittaka dropped 29 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!
Northside Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and outkicked New Trier's Charlie Furse to the finish to placed 32nd overall with a personal best time of 16:47. Cooper Eben ran an aggressive race, and went out in 5:27 for the first mile, and then ran a 5:40 second mile, and then ran even-splits on the final mile with a 5:40 for a personal best time of 16:47. Sophomore Cooper Eben dropped 40 seconds off his PR, and ran the tenth fastest time in Northside history!
Northside Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished fourth for the Mustangs and outkicked St. Viator's Nick Fratto to the finish to place 53rd overall with a personal best time of 17:30. Jiasong Yang dropped 13 seconds off his PR, and ran the 13th fastest time in Northside history!
Northside Freshman Wesley Laytham finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and outkicked Glenbrook North's John Burke to the finish to secure the victory over the Spartans and placed 58th overall with a personal best time of 17:42. Wesley Laytham dropped 6 seconds off his PR, and ran the 14th fastest time in Northside history. Wesley Laytham was also the second fastest Freshman in the meet to Prospect's Kellan Strobel.
Northside Senior Harold Jaffe (18:36.84), and Northside Junior Simon Vecchioni (18:37.15) finished sixth and seventh respectively for the Mustangs, and 75th and 76th overall. Jaffe and Vecchioni finished ahead of the fifth man from Racine Case (Ryan Daye) and Rolling Meadows (Matt Hayden) to secure the victory. Harold Jaffe dropped 13 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational. Simon Vecchioni dropped 1 Minute and 8 seconds off his PR!
On Saturday, September 22, 2007, the Mustangs will travel to Leyden High School for the 2007 Leyden Invitational. The meet will feature among others, IHSA Regional rivals Proviso East, and Leyden High School, and IHSA Sectional rival Glenbrook North will be coming to the meet for a re-match.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside Varsity Womens Cross Country Team traveled to Adler Park for the Liberyville Invitational. The meet featured 15 Teams, including New Trier, Glenbrook North, Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Fremd, Vernon Hills, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Lockport, Loyola, Maine West, Northside College Prep, Ressurection, Lake Zurich, and host Libertyville.
The Libertyville Invitational is one of the most competive meets in the State. At the end of every Cross Country season, the Mustangs vote for their favorite meet of the season. The Northside Women's Team always choses Libertyville, the toughest meet in the state, and that attitude is one of the reasons that makes the Northside Womens Cross Country Team a special team, year after year.
14 days ago, on September 1, 2007, the Mustangs were defeated by Lake Zurich in Kenosha, WI. After two weeks of quality training, the Mustangs avenged their defeat by posting victories over Lake Zurich, Venon Hills, Rolling Meadows, Loyola, Ressurection, and Maine West.
The Mustangs were led by Captain Rachel Kittaka. Rachel Kittaka had her best race of the season. Senior Rachel Kittaka went out in 6:11 for the first mile, and ran a 6:29 for the second mile, and a 6:41 final mile, for an outstanding time of 19:21. Rachel Kittaka placed 18th overall and beat New Trier, Glenbrook North, Lake Zurich, Loyola, and Ressurection's entire Team. Kittaka dropped 1 Minute and 17 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational. It was also the fastest time ever run by a Northside female athlete at the Libertyville Invitational. After the meet, Rachel Kittaka was approached by NCAA Division I Depaul Head Coach Pat Savage about running for the Blue Demons.
Captain Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 20:21. Junior Ani Zotti went out in 6:35 for the first mile, and ran a 6:47 for the second mile, and ran a 6:59 for the final mile, for an outstanding time of 20:21. Ani Zotti placed 51st overall and dropped 1 Minute and 14 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!!!
Junior Carmen Abelson finished third for the Mustangs and finished 60th overall with an outstanding time of 20:48. Carmen Abelson went out in 6:30 for the first mile, and ran a 7:01 for the second mile, and ran a 7:19 for the final mile, for an outstanding time of 20:48. Carmen Abelson dropped 55 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!!!
Junior Anna Parks finished fourth for the Mustangs and finished 68th overall with an outstanding time of 21:07. Parks went out in 6:45 for the first mile, and ran a 7:15 for the second mile, and ran negative splits! with a 7:07 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 21:07. Anna Parks dropped 1 minute and 33 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational!!!
Sophomore Bessie Nolan completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and finished 76th overall, with a personal best time of 21:29. Nolan went out in 6:54 for the first mile, and ran a 7:26 for the second mile, and ran negative splits! with a 7:09 on the final mile, for a Personal best time of 21:29.
Freshman Su Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 87th overall, with a personal best time of 22:36. Su Yang went out in 7:09 for the first mile, and ran a 7:27 for the second mile, and ran a 8:00 for the final mile, for a personal best time of 22:36.
Junior Adaora Achufusi earned her first Varsity letter by finishing seventh for the Mustangs and outkicked Loyola's Hannah Perry to finish 93rd overall, with an outstanding time of 23:05. Adaora Achufusi went out in 7:15 for the first mile, and ran a 7:40 for the second mile, and ran a 8:10 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 23:05.
The Mustangs travel to Leyden High School on Saturday, September 22, 2007 to face IHSA Regional rivals Leyden and Proviso East. The Mustangs came within 21 points of IHSA Sectional rival Glenbrook North at Libertyville, and will be seeking to close the gap at the Leyden High School Invitational.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside Junior Varsity Cross Country Team traveled to the Libertyville Invitational. The meet featured several of the top Junior Varsity Teams in the state, including: New Trier, Glenbrook North, Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Fremd, St. Viator, Vernon Hills, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Lockport, Racine Case, Loyola, Maine West, and host Libertyville.
The Mustangs Junior Varsity has been dramatically improving each week, and as a result of their hard work, they will be one of the top teams in the Junior Varsity City Championships on October 13, 2007.
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon issued a challenge to the Junior Varsity on Friday, September 14, 2007 to beat Glenbrook North at Libertyville, and as a reward the entire Junior Varsity squad would be given Gatorade. Although the Mustangs came up short against Glenbrook North 219-262, the coaching staff was very pleased with the Mustangs performance.
The Junior Varsity Boys posted victories over Racine Case, St.Viator, Vernon Hills, Rolling Meadows, and Lockport.
The Mustangs were led by Senior Brad Eben. Eben placed 65th overall with an outstanding time of 19:23. Brad Eben went out in 6:06 for the first mile, 6:38 for the second mile, and ran a negative split of 6:36 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 19:23.
Senior John Mussman finished second for the Mustangs and 80th overall with an outstanding time of 19:48. John Mussman went out in 6:15 for the first mile, 6:49 for the second mile, and ran a negative split of 6:44 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 19:48.
Senior James Casper-Shipp finished third for the Mustangs and 84th overall with an outstanding time of 19:53. James Casper-Shipp went out in 6:10 for the first mile, 7:00 for the second mile, and ran a negative split of 6:43 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 19:53.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished fourth for the Mustangs and 85th overall with a personal best time of 19:54. Ted Kalaw went out in 6:14 for the mile, 6:49 for the second mile, and ran a 6:51 on the final mile, for a personal best time of 19:54.
Senior Irfan Hussain showed more guts and determination than anyone will ever know, to finish fifth for the Mustangs and 97th overall with an outstanding time of 19:59. Irfan Hussain is not allowed to have food or even water during the holiday of Ramadan during daylight hours. Irfan Hussain ran in the meet for his teammates knowing that he would not be allowed to accept any water from the coaching staff after the meet, and was not able to re-hydrate himself until the evening hours. Irfan Hussain showed incredible mental toughness and ran an outstanding time of 19:59 for the Mustangs.
Junior Robby Loanzon finished sixth for the Mustangs and 136th overall with a personal best time of 20:43. Loanzon went out in 6:38 for the first mile, 7:13 for the second mile, and ran a negative split of 6:52 on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 20:43. Robby Loanzon dropped 2 minutes and 52 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a personal best time of 20:43.
Junior Rafael Confino finished seventh for the Mustangs and 143rd overall with a personal best time of 20:51. Confino dropped 3 minutes and 11 seconds from the St.Patrick Invitational for a personal best time of 20:51!!!
Junior Adrian Bonifacio ran an outstanding time of 21:15.
Sophomore Thomas Nguyen ran an outstanding time of 21:23.
Junior Jonathan Que ran his best meet of the season with an outstanding time of 21:43.
Junior Coleman Gailloreto ran an outstanding time of 22:21.
Sophomore Neal Capapas had an impressive finish at Libertyville, outkicking Northside's Norman Lee, New Trier's Grant Henel, and Glenbrook North's Sam Rubin with a great kick to finish with an outstanding time of 22:50. Neal Capas went out in 7:20 for the first mile, 7:40 for the second mile, and ran 7:50 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 22:50.
Junior Norman Lee, one of the most improved athletes on the team, ran an outstanding time of 22:51. Lee went out in 7:15 for the first mile, 7:36 for the second mile, and ran 8:00 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 22:51.
With the additions of Senior Santino Merino (took ACT on 9/15) and Junior Craig Melhuse (sick on 9/15) for the Leyden Invitational, the Mustangs will be looking forward to the re-match against Glenbrook North at the Leyden Invitational, and another opportunity to make good on the Gatorade challenge.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside Junior Varsity Girls Team traveled to Adler Park for the Libertyville Invitational.
Junior Maria Zdunek led the Northside Junior Varsity Girls with a personal best time of 25:05 to place 137th overall. Maria Zdunek dropped 8 minutes and 5 seconds off her PR!
Junior AJ Farkas finished second for the Mustangs and finished 233rd overall with a personal best time of 28:01.
Junior Dashiel Bark-Huss finished third for the Mustangs and finished 262nd overall with a personal best time of 29:43. Dashiel Bark-Huss dropped 1 minute and 37 seconds off her PR!
Junior Jennifer Mensah finished fourth for the Mustangs and finished 272nd overall with a personal best time of 32:10. Jennifer Mensah dropped 5 minutes and 25 seconds off her PR!
Senior Omandra Zamora finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and finished 275th overall with a personal best time of 35:43. Omandra Zamora dropped 6 minutes and 4 seconds off her PR!
The Mustangs Junior Varsity Girls will travel on Saturday, September 22, 2007 to the Leyden Invitational.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Team traveled to Adler Park in Libertyville, Illinois for the 2007 Libertyville Invitational. The meet featured 15 Teams and over 200 runners.
Sophomore Forrest Cortez lead the Mustangs with a personal best time of 19:27 to place 87th overall. Cortez went out in 6:21 for the first mile, then ran a 6:37 for the second mile, and ran a negative split! with a 6:28 on the final mile, for a personal best time of 19:27.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished second for the Mustangs and 101st overall with a personal best time of 19:53. Dominic Sieminski went out in 6:25 for the first mile, then ran a 6:50 for the second mile, and ran a negative split! with a 6:38 on the final mile, for a personal best time of 19:53.
Freshman Jonathan Kriston finished third for the Mustangs and 105th overall with a personal best time of 20:00!
Sophomore James Rey finished fourth for the Mustangs and 111th overall with an outstanding time of 20:12.
Freshman Erik Zuhlke finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and 126th overall with a personal best time of 20:42.
Freshman Noel Lopez battled severe shin splints to finish sixth for the Mustangs and 131st overall with an outstanding time of 20:55.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari finished seventh for the Mustangs and 136th overall with an outstanding time of 21:18.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished eighth for the Mustangs and 141st overall with a persona best time of 21:33.
Freshman Roldan Alegre finished ninth for the Mustangs and 142nd overall with an outstanding time of 21:35.
Freshman Luis Gaytan finished tenth for the Mustangs and 144th overall with an outstanding time of 21:42.
Sophomore Kevin Jaburek finished eleventh for the Mustangs and 147th overall and had an outstanding kick to finish with a time of 22:06.
Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon finished twelfth for the Mustangs and 148th overall with an outstanding time of 22:07.
The Mustangs will travel to the Leyden Invitational on Saturday, September 22, 2007.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, the Northside Sophomore-Freshman Girls Team traveled to Adler Park in Libertyville, Illinois for the 2007 Libertyville Invitational. With Sophomore Bessie Nolan and Freshman Su Yang promoted to the Varsity the Mustangs were left with only three entries that were present for the Sophomore-Freshman Girls Team.
Freshman Karlyn Gehring led the Mustangs with a personal best time of 24:52 to finish 120th overall.
Sophomore Karen Li finished second for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 24:54 to finish 121st overall.
Sophomore Mahaim Haider finished third for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 27:27 to finish 146th overall.
The Mustangs will travel on Saturday, September 22, 2007 to the Leyden Invitational.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon and Assistant Coach Chad Ware traveled to Adler Park in Libertyville, Illinois for the 2007 Libertyville Invitational Coaches race. The course consisted of two miles with a nice uphill finish. The Northside coaching staff was placed in box 16, against the coaching staffs from 15 other schools. After both coaches were checked by IHSA officials for possible uniform violations, the coaching staff was given last minute instructions from their athletes about securing "vital" points for the Team. Ware and Gordon, then chanted "Let's Kick this Pig!", and then the IHSA official fired the gun.
Northside Assistant Chad Ware took an early lead in the race. Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon used the first downhill for a quick advantage over the New Trier Coaching staff. The mustangs looked strong after the first 1/4 mile. A member of the New Trier coaching staff turned to Gordon at 1/4 mile into the race and asked how far have we gone? Gordon replied a 1/4 of mile. The New Trier coach said is that all?? and he quickly dropped off pace. But then sprinted back up to Gordon after receiving encouragement from the New Trier Athletes.
Coach Chad Ware was in the lead from the start of the race. But there was no one directing him, so he took a wrong turn towards the woods. The runners in second and third didn't say anything to Ware and sprinted ahead in the right direction. Gordon saw Ware take the wrong turn, and then sprinted up to the front pack and signaled to Ware that he was going the wrong way. Despite a 30 second disadvantage, Ware quickly made up the lost ground, and re-gained the lead.
A couple of minutes after Gordon passed the Mile mark, Northside Assistant Coach Chad Ware came into the finish to WIN the coaches race with an outstanding time of 10:40.
About a 1.75m into the race, Coach Gordon was quickly approaching a beautiful girl, and he told her as he passed her that he medaled in the Varsity race in 1989. She quickly sprinted back up to him, and said her husband medaled in that 1989 race. As Coach Gordon approached the final hill, he received last minute instructions from his athletes to drop the girl and sprint to the finish. Coach Gordon followed through with his athletes instructions, and sprinted to the finish line, with his athletes helping pace him, and then Coach Gordon was greeted with a bottle of water and an apple as a reward for his 2007 season best two mile time (20:10).
After the beautiful girl finished, Coach Gordon asked her the name of her husband, and it was Mark Roehl. Coach Gordon had not seen Mark Roehl since he was Sophomore in college in 1991.
In 1988, Mark Roehl and Jon Gordon helped win an IHSA Regional Cross Country Championship together for Glenbrook North High School. In 1989, Gordon beat Roehl at IHSA Regionals, and Roehl returned the favor at IHSA Sectionals a week later on his way to the State Championship. After High School, Mark Roehl went on to run for Iowa, and Jon Gordon went on to run for Northern Michigan University. After college, Roehl settled in Wisconsin, and Gordon went to law school in Jacksonville, Florida. The former high school teammates, and former co-Captains of the 1990 Glenbrook North Track Team had never seen each other since their Sophomore years of College.
Mark Roehl met his wife at Iowa, and it turns out she was also in that 1989 race, running for Libertyville. Infact, she was the one who handed out the Varsity medals that day at the awards ceremony, and Mark had no idea back in 1989 that he was receiving a medal from his future wife.
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon has been bringing the Mustangs to the Libertyville Invitational since 2004, and every year he unexpectedly meets someone from his past, including former coaches, and now teammates as well.
A special thanks to Libertyville Head Coach Mark Bussing for hosting an outstanding meet, year after year, and making all the reunions possible.
On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, the Mustangs sent their Junior Varsity squad in place of their Varsity to the Mather Classic Invitational. The meet took place in Legion Park, in Chicago, Illinois. The course length was 2.0 Miles. The Junior Varsity rose up to the challenge and placed second overall in the meet, and beat the Varsity squads from Schurz, Ridgewood, South Shore, Little Village, Von Steuben, Foreman, CICS, Saint Benedict, and Kelvyn Park.
The Mustangs were led by Junior Elizabeth Lewis. Lewis ran an outstanding time of 14:59 to place 10th overall. Lewis was awarded a Medal as the second fastest Junior in the meet.
Sophomore Weronika Zuczek finished second for the Mustangs and 11th overall with an outstanding time of 15:09. Zuczek was awarded a Medal as the fourth fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Freshman Karlyn Gehring finished third for the Mustangs and 13th overall with an outstanding time of 15:34. Gehring was awarded a Medal as the fifth fastest Freshman in the meet.
Junior Maria Zdunek finished fourth for the Mustangs and 16th overall with an outstanding time of 15:45. Maria Zdunek was awarded a Medal as the third fastest Junior in the meet.
Sophomore Karen Li completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 21st overall with an outstanding time of 16:19. Karen Li was awarded a Medal as the eighth fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Sophomore Jessica Tapia finished sixth for the Mustangs and 28th overall with an outstanding time of 16:58. Jessica Tapia was awarded a Medal as the tenth fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Sophomore Kasia Rojeck finished seventh for the Mustangs and 30th overall with an outstanding time of 17:00.
Junior Katherine Ceisel (17:07), Sophomore Mahaim Haider (17:42), Junior Dashiel Bark-Huss (19:24), Jennifer Mensah (21:10), Lily Ho (21:30), and Senior Omandra Zamora (23:52) also competed for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Northlake, Illinois for the Eagle Invitational on Saturday, September 22, 2007.
On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, the Mustangs sent their Junior Varsity squad in place of their Varsity to the Mather Classic. The meet took place in Legion Park, in Chicago, Illinois. The course length was 2.0 Miles. The Junior Varsity rose up to the challenge and placed second overall in the meet, and beat the Varsity squads from Schurz, South Shore, Ridgewood, Von Steuben, Foreman, CICS, Saint Benedict, and Kelvyn Park.
Senior John Mussman led the Mustangs by placing 10th overall with an outstanding time of 12:26. Mussman was awarded a Medal for being the third fastest Senior in the meet.
Sophomore Kevin Jaburek finished second for the Mustangs and 13th overall with an outstanding time of 12:32. Jaburek dropped 35 seconds from the Mather Invitational. Kevin Jaburek was awarded a Medal for being the fifth fastest Sophomore in the meet.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished third for the Mustangs and 14th overall with an outstanding time of 12:33. Sieminski dropped 3 seconds from the Mather Invitational. Dominic Sieminski was awarded a Medal for being the third fastest Freshman in the meet.
Senior Irfan Hussain finished fourth for the Mustangs and 15th overall with an outstanding time of 12:34. Irfan Hussain dropped 38 seconds from the Mather Invitational. Irfan Hussain was awarded a Medal for being the fourth fastest Senior in the meet.
Senior James Casper-Shipp completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 19th overall with an outstanding time of 12:43. James Casper-Shipp was awarded a Medal for being the fifth fastest Senior in the meet.
Junior Spencer Rosenfeld finished sixth for the Mustangs and 20th overall with an outstanding time of 12:47. Spencer Rosenfeld was awarded a Medal for being the fourth fastest Junior in the meet.
Freshman Erik Zuhlke finished seventh for the Mustangs and 21st overall with an outstanding time of 12:51. Zuhlke was awarded a Medal for being the seventh fastest Freshman in the meet.
Freshman Jonathan Kriston finished eighth for the Mustangs and 23rd overall with an outstanding time of 12:56. Jonathan Kriston dropped 43 seconds from the Mather Invitational. Kriston was awarded a Medal for being the eighth fastest Freshman in the meet.
Freshman Rhiday Pandya finished ninth for the Mustangs and 29th overall with an outstanding time of 13:06. Pandya was awarded a Medal for being the tenth fastest Freshman in the meet.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished tenth for the Mustangs and 30th overall with an outstanding time of 13:07. Austrevich dropped 14 seconds from the Mather Invitational.
Freshman Roldan Alegre finished eleventh for the Mustangs and 31st overall with an outstanding time of 13:10. Alegre dropped 18 seconds from the Mather Invitational.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari finished twelfth for the Mustangs and 32nd overall with an outstanding time of 13:11. Sarvari dropped 16 seconds from the Mather Invitational.
Junior Jonathan Que (13:25), Junior Ted Kalaw (13:28), Sophomore James Rey (13:33), Sophomore Peter Wilk (13:35), Freshman Luis Gaytan (13:40), Sophomore Thomas Nguyen (13:50), Junior Andy Gao (13:55), Junior Nathan Michaelson (14:23), Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon (14:28), Junior Adrian Bonifacio (14:35), Junior Coleman Gailloreto (14:38), Sophomore Sam Olver (14:45), Sophomore Brian Chhun (14:52), Sophomore Neibu Tadele (15:19), and Freshman Alredo Almarez also competed for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Northlake, Illinois on Saturday, September 22, 2007 for the Eagle Invitational, hosted by Leyden High School.
On Saturday, September 22, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Men Cross Country Team arrived to Northside at dawn for a 7:15 am bus deperature, and were greeted by Northside Alumni Distance legend Patrick O'Connor. Patrick O'Connor gave the Mustangs some final words of wisdom and encouragement as they boarded the Bus and promissed to return in November.
The Mustangs traveled to Center Point Forest Preserve in Northlake, Illinois to take on St.Joseph, Glenbrook North, Elmwood Park, Willowbrook, Addison Trail, Proviso East, Guerin Prep, Proviso West, Morton, Nazareth, and host Leyden High Schools in the Eagle Invitational.
Leyden High School is so large (3,614 students) that the school has a Campus in Franklin Park, Illinois (Leyden East) and Northlake, Illinois (Leyden West), and they combine both schools for their Cross Country Team.
The Meet also featured 7 schools from the West Suburban Gold Conference, which has won 25 of the last 50 Boys State Cross Country Titles. The top team representing the West Suburban Gold Conference at the Eagle Invitational, was Willowbrook. Willowbrook had never lost a meet to Northside, and the Mustangs were well aware of it going into the meet.
The Mustangs coaching staff set the goal for the Leyden Invitational to beat IHSA Regional rivals Proviso East, Morton, and Leyden, and IHSA Sectional rival Glenbrook North. This time of year, it is important for Northside College Prep to beat any team standing between them and a November trip to the State Championships, in order to build confidence for the upcoming IHSA State series.
The Mustangs responded with the greatest TEAM performance in the history of Northside College Prep by upsetting Willowbrook, and host Leyden high school to WIN the 2007 Leyden Eagle Invitational!
The Mustangs were led by the one-two punch of Captains Jonathan Kittaka (third overall) and Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss (fourth overall). In 2006, Jonathan Kittaka ran a time of 16:50 at the Leyden Eagle Invitational. In 2007, Junior Jonathan Kittaka on the SAME course, improved 54 seconds, and ran a personal best time of 15:56!!
In 2006, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran a 17:58 at the Leyden Eagle Invitational. In 2007, Junior Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss on the SAME course improved 2 minutes and 1 second, and ran a personal best time of 15:57!!
Captains Jonathan Kittaka and Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss joined John Krumsee as the only athletes in the history of Northside to break the 16 minute barrier.
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and sixth overall. In 2006, Cooper Eben ran a time of 19:23 at the Leyden Eagle Invitational. In 2007, Cooper Eben on the SAME course, improved 3 minutes and 1 second, a ran a personal best time of 16:22!! Cooper Eben also dropped 25 seconds from the Libertyville Invitatinal! Sophomore Cooper Eben ran the sixth fastest time in Northside history!
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs and 14th overall with a personal best time of 16:37. Charlie Mesimore was awarded a Medal in a cermony following the meet. Charlie Mesimore showed great determination and dropped 51 seconds from the Gordon Tech Invitational! Freshman Charlie Mesimore also ran the tenth fastest time in Northside history!
Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and 23rd overall with personal best time of 17:08. In 2006, Jiasong Yang ran a time of 20:11 at the Leyden Eagle Invitational. In 2007, Jiasong Yang on the SAME course, improved 3 minutes and 3 seconds, and ran a personal best time of 17:08!! Jiasong Yang also dropped 22 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational! Sophomore Jiasong Yang also ran the twelfth fastest time in Northside history!
Freshman Wesley Laytham showed incredible mental toughness, early in the race a blister on the back of his foot was rubbing against his shoe, and the irritation developed into a cut, making it difficult to run. This can be solved with nu-skin or mole skin placed around the area of the cut, but not in the middle of a race. Wesley Laytham stayed in the race for his teammates, and ran a personal best time of 17:22! Laytham dropped 20 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational! Wesley Laytham secured the victory for the Mustangs, in a very close meet by finishing ahead of several teams fifth runners to push the oppositions Team scores back. Freshman Wesley Laytham also ran the fourteenth fastest time in Northside history!
In 2006, Simon Vecchioni ran a 22:56 at the Leyden Eagle Invitational. In 2007, on the SAME course, Simon Vecchioni finished seventh for the Mustangs and improved 4 minutes with an outstanding time of 18:56. Although his time increased 19 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational, Simon Vecchioni effort throughout the race was outstanding and he helped secure the victory for the Mustangs, in a very close meet by by finishing ahead of several teams fifth runners, to push the oppositions Team scores back.
On September 29, 2007, the Mustangs will travel to Niles West High School for the 37th annual Pat Savage Invitational. It is the largest high school meet in Illinois, and it is also the home of the IHSA Sectional course. The Mustangs will be seeking a victory over IHSA Sectional rival Evanston, among others, in their final meet before City Championships.
In a ceremony that took place following the meet, the Top 20 athletes in the Varsity Mens race were awarded Medals. Northside Captain Jonathan Kittaka was awarded a Medal for placing third overall in the Leyden Eagle Invitational.
In a ceremony that took place following the meet, the Top 20 athletes in the Varsity Mens race were awarded Medals. Northside Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was awarded a Medal for placing fourth overall in the Leyden Eagle Invitational.
The Meet also featured 7 schools from the West Suburban Gold Conference, which has won 25 of the last 50 Boys State Cross Country Titles.
The Mustangs coaching staff set the goal for the Leyden Invitational to beat IHSA Regional rivals Proviso East, Morton, and Leyden.
Willowbrook won the meet. Glenbrook North finished in second. The Mustangs placed Third and accomplished their goal of beating IHSA Regional rivals Leyden, Morton, and Proviso East.
The Mustangs were led by Captain Rachel Kittaka. In 2006, Rachel Kittaka ran a 19:00 on the SAME course. In 2007, Senior Rachel Kittaka improved by 21 seconds and broke the school record with a personal best time of 18:39. Rachel Kittaka was awarded a Medal for placing fourth overall.
Captain Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs and 11th overall with a personal best time of 19:35. In 2006, Ani Zotti ran a 20:11 on the SAME course. In 2007, Junior Ani Zotti improved by 36 seconds with a personal best time of 19:35. Ani Zotti was awarded a Medal for placing 11th overall. It was the second fastest time in Northside history!
Junior Carmen Abelson finished third for the Mustangs and 16th overall with an outstanding time of 20:05. Carmen Abelson was awarded a Medal for placing 16th overall. Carmen Abelson dropped 43 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational.
Junior Anna Parks finished fourth for the Mustangs and 23rd overall with an outstanding time of 20:43. Parks dropped 24 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational.
Junior Adaora Achufusi completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 36th overall with a personal best time of 21:47. In 2006, Adaora Achufusi ran a 25:04 on the SAME course. In 2007, Junior Adaora Achufusi improved by 3 minutes and 17 seconds with a personal best time of 21:47. Achufusi also dropped 1 minute and 18 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational!
Freshman Su Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 37th overall with a personal best time of 21:53. Su Yang dropped 43 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational!
Captain Julia Shimada finished seventh for the Mustangs and 40th overall with an outstanding time of 22:04. Senior Julia Shimada dropped 1 minute and 1 second from the Gordon Tech Invitational!
The Mustangs will travel to Skokie, Illinois to Niles West High School on September 29, 2007 for the 37th Annual Pat Savage Invitational. It is the largest Cross Country Meet in Illinois and the home of the IHSA Sectional course. It will be the Mustangs final meet before the City Championships.
On Saturday, September 22, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Cross Country Team traveled to Center Point Forest Preserve in Northlake, Illinois to take on St.Joseph, Glenbrook North, Elmwood Park, Willowbrook, Addison Trail, Proviso East, Guerin Prep, Proviso West, Morton, Nazareth, and host Leyden High Schools in the Eagle Invitational.
The Mustangs placed 5th overall out of 12 Teams, and were led by Sophomore Forrest Cortes. Forrest Cortes ran a personal best time of 18:32. Forrest Cortes dropped 55 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational! Forrest Cortes was also awarded a Medal for placing 17th overall!
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished second for the Mustangs and 19th overall with a personal best time of 18:42. Sieminski dropped one minute and 11 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational! Dominic Sieminski was also awarded a Medal for placing 19th overall!
Freshman Jonathan Kriston finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 18:51. Kriston dropped 1 minute and 9 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational!
Freshman Erik Zuhlke finished fourth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 19:25.
Sophomore James Rey finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 19:26.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished sixth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 19:50.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari finished seventh for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 20:02.
The Mustangs were led by Freshman Karlyn Gehring. Karlyn Gehring went out in 7:45 for the first mile. Karlyn Gehring ran a 8:33 split on the second mile. Gehring ran a 7:45 negative split on the final mile for a personal best time of 24:03.
Sophomore Karen Li finished second for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 24:05.
Sophomore Jessica Tapia finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 25:52.
Sophomore Mahaim Haider finished fourth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 26:04.
Freshman Lily Ho finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 30:47. Lily Ho dropped11 minutes off her PR!
The Mustangs will travel on Saturday, September 29, 2007 to Skokie, Illinois for the Niles West Invitational. The largest high school meet in Illinois.
The meet featured a 2.0 mile co-ed race for the Junior Varsity division. The Mustangs were led by Senior Brad Eben (12:14), and Senior Santino Merino (12:15). Senior Brad Eben went out in 5:59 for the first mile, and ran a 6:15 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 12:14.
Senior Santino Marino went out in 5:54 for the first mile, and ran a 6:19 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 12:15.
Senior John Mussman went out in 6:09 for the first mile, and ran a 6:21 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 12:30.
Senior James Casper-Shipp went out in 6:06 for the first mile, and ran a 6:26 on the final mile for a time of 12:32.
Junior Spencer Rosenfeld finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring. Rosenfeld went out in 6:17 for the first mile, and ran a 6:18 on the final mile for a time of 12:35.
Junior Robby Loanzon went out in 6:10 for the first mile, and ran a 6:40 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 12:50.
Senior Irfan Hussain finished seventh for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:55. Hussain went out in 6:15 for the first mile, and ran a 6:40 on the final mile for a time of 12:55.
Junior Craig Melhuse finished eighth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:02. Craig Melhuse went out in 6:22 for the first mile, and ran a 6:40 on the final mile for a time of 13:02.
Sophomore Thomas Nguyen finished ninth for the Mustangs with an outstanding kick for a time of 13:28. Nguyen went out in 6:21 for the first mile, and ran a 7:07 for the final mile for a time of 13:28.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished tenth for the Mustangs with a time of 13:37. Kalaw went out in 6:40 for the first mile, and ran a 6:57 on the final mile for a time of 13:37.
Freshman Luis Gaytan finished eleventh for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:49.
Junior Coleman Gailloreto finished twelfth for the Mustangs, and had his best finish of the season, for an outstanding time of 14:09.
Junior Norman Lee finished 13th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 14:10.
Sophomore Sam Olver finished 14th for the Mustangs with a time of 14:44. Olver went out in 7:18 for the first mile, and ran a 7:26 on the final mile, for a time of 14:44.
Sophomore Neal Capapas finished 15th for the Mustangs with a time of 14:47. Capapas went out in 7:00 for the first mile, and ran a 7:47 on the final mile for a time of 14:47.
Freshman Alfredo Almaraz finished 16th for the Mustangs with a time of 17:27. Almaraz went out in 8:28 for the first mile, and ran a 8:59 on the final mile for a time of 17:27.
Junior Elizabeth Lewis led the Junior Varsity Girls in the co-ed race with an outstanding time of 14:35. Lewis went out in 7:08 for the first mile, and ran a 7:27 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 14:35.
Junior Maria Zdunek finished second for the JV Girls with an outstanding time of 16:19.
Junior Jennifer Mensah finished third for the JV Girls with an outstanding time of 20:50.
A limited number of Junior Varsity Boys Team will travel with the Varsity on September 29, 2007 to race in the Varsity division at the Niles West Invitational on September 29, 2007. All of the Junior Varsity Girls Team will travel and compete in the meet.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007, the Northside Varsity Mens Cross Country Team arrived at dawn at Northside College Prep for a 7:20 am departure to Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois. The Mustangs were greeted by Northside Alumni and Running shoe expert Daniel Kittaka. Daniel Kittaka was in Chicago for a collegiate race, and wished the Mustangs good luck before the Mustangs departed for the 37th Annual Pat Savage Invitational.
In addition to hosting the Pat Savage Invitational, Niles West High School is also the host for the IHSA Sectional Championships. The main purpose of the Mustangs competing at the Pat Savage Invitational was to gain valuable race experience on the challenging IHSA Sectional race course.
The Pat Savage Invitational is one of the largest high school meets in Illinois, and features two divisions (Schools A-M (Red Division), and Schools N-Z (White Division)). Northside College Prep was in the white division, which featured over 225 runners, and 25 Teams, including: Warren, Prospect, Northside College Prep, New Praire, Oak Forrest, Willowbrook, Notre Dame-Niles, Waubonise, Northridge, Niles North, Niles West, St. Lawrence, St. Patrick, St. Viator, Woodstock, Oak Park-River Forest, Stevenson, Zion Benton, Wauconda, Round Lake, Wheeling, Taft, Steinmetz, and Peoria Manual. Plaques were awarded to the top sixty athletes.
The Mustangs were awarded a Team Tropy for placing third overall!!, and posted 22 wins to improve their season record to 102-20! The Northside College Prep school record for wins in a season is 103, and the Mustangs are now within two victories of breaking that record.
Captain Jonathan Kittaka led the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 16:06 to place eighth overall. In 2006, on the SAME course, at IHSA Sectionals, Jonathan Kittaka ran a time of 17:20. Junior Jonathan Kittaka dropped a minute and 14 seconds in one year! Jonathan Kittaka went out in 5:17 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:25, and then ran a negative split of 5:24 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 16:06. Jonathan Kittaka was awarded a plaque for placing eighth overall in a ceremony that took place after the meet in Niles West High School Indoor Track stadium.
Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss finished second for the Mustangs and ninth overall with an outstanding time of 16:14. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss went out in 5:18 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:29, and then ran a negative split of 5:27 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 16:14. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was awaded a plaque for placing ninth overall! Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was also the fastest Sophomore in the meet!!
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and 28th overall with an outstanding time of 16:43. Cooper Eben went out in 5:35 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:39, and then ran a negative split of 5:29 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 16:43. Cooper Eben was awarded a plaque for placing 28th overall!
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs and 30th overall with an outstanding time of 16:47. Charlie Mesimore went out in 5:27 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:44, and then ran a negative split of 5:36 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 16:47. Charlie Mesimore was awarded a plaque for placing 30th overall! Charlie Mesimore was also the second fastest Freshman in the meet!!
Freshman Wesley Laytham completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 49th overall with a personal best time of 17:07. Wesley Laytham went out in 5:40 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:54, and then ran a negative split of 5:33 on the final mile for a personal best time of 17:07. Wesley Laytham was awarded a plaque for placing 49th overall! Wesley Laytham was also the third fastest Freshman in the meet!!
Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 64th overall with an outstanding time of 17:17. Jiasong Yang finished ahead of the fifth runner from 19 schools to push the oppositions Team scores back in the standings! Jiasong Yang went out in 5:37 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 5:51, and then ran a negative split of 5:49 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 17:17. Jiasong Yang was also awarded a ribbon!
Junior Simon Vecchioni finished seventh for the Mustangs and 92nd overall with a personal best time of 18:05. Simon Vecchioni finished ahead of the fifth runner from 16 schools to push the oppositions Team scores back in the standings! Simon Vecchioni went out in 5:46 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:07, and then ran the final mile in 6:12 for a personal best time of 18:05. Vecchioni dropped 51 seconds from the Leyden Invitational! Simon Vecchioni was also awarded a ribbon!
Senior Harold Jaffe finished eighth for the Mustangs and 108th overall with a personal best time of 18:16. Harold Jaffe went out in 5:52 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:14, and then ran a negative split of 6:10 on the final mile for a personal best time of 18:16.
Freshman Dominic Sieminski finished ninth for the Mustangs and 124th overall with a personal best time of 18:40. Dominic Sieminski went out in 6:20 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:20, and then ran a negative split of 6:00 on the final mile for a personal best time of 18:40.
Senior Brad Eben finished tenth for the Mustangs and 131st overall with a personal best time of 18:53. Brad Eben went out in 6:12 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:25, and then ran a negative split 6:16 on the final mile for a personal best time of 18:53.
Junior Craig Melhuse finished eleventh for the Mustangs and 137th overall with a personal best time of 19:00. Craig Melhuse went out in 6:25 for the first mile, and then ran a 6:25 even split on the second mile, and then ran a negative split of 6:10 on the final mile for a personal best time of 19:00.
Freshman Jonathan Kriston finished twelfth for the Mustangs and 138th overall with an outstanding time of 19:01. Jonathan Kriston went out in 6:35 for the first mile, and then ran a negative split of 6:29 on the second mile, and then ran another negative split of 5:57 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 19:01.
Sophomore Forrest Cortes finished 13th for the Mustangs and 139th overall with an outstanding time of 19:02. Forrest Cortes went out in 6:25 for the first mile, and then ran a negative split of 6:21 on the second mile, and then ran another negative split of 6:16 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 19:02.
Senior James Casper-Shipp finished 14th for the Mustangs and 147th overall with an outstanding time of 19:15. James Casper-Shipp went out in 6:06 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:44, and then ran a negative split of 6:35 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 19:15.
Senior John Mussman finished 15th for the Mustangs and 175th overall with a time of 20:09. John Mussman went out in 6:30 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:54, and then ran a negative split of 6:45 on the final mile for a time of 20:09.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished 16th for the Mustangs and 182nd overall with a time of 20:20. Ted Kalaw went out in 6:30 for the first mile, and then ran the second mile in 6:54, and then ran a 6:56 on the final mile for a time of 20:20.
The Northside College Prep Varsity Men Cross Country Team will be spending the next two weeks preparing to bring home the first City Championship Title in the history of Northside College Prep. The City Championships will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Promitory Point (Lake Shore Drive and 55th). Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills is coming all the way from Sacremento, California for the meet, and will be the Mustangs guest of honor at a Team/Parent Pasta Party, the night before City Championships, on Friday, October 12, 2007 at Northside College Prep.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Women's Cross Country Team traveled to Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois for the 37th Annual Pat Savage Invitational.
The Pat Savage Invitational is one of the largest high school meets in Illinois, and features two divisions (Schools A-M (Red Division), and Schools N-Z (White Division)). Northside College Prep was in the white division, which featured 19 Teams. In 2006, Niles West High School finished two places ahead of the Mustangs at IHSA Sectionals. In 2007, at the Pat Savage Invitational, the Mustangs beat Niles West 168-184!!!
Woodstock won the meet with a Team score of 25. St. Viator finished in second with a Team score of 75. Willowbrook finished in third with a Team score of 86. New Prairie finished in fourth with a Team score of 92. Warren finished in fifth with a Team score of 161. Northside College Prep finished in sixth with a Team score of 168, and posted victories over: Niles West (184), Zion Benton (221), Queen of Peace (256), Oak Forest (277), Niles North (358), Stevenson (373), Round Lake (373), Wauconda (419), Peoria Manual (422), St. Scholastica (456), Taft (476), Steinmetz, and Waubonsie Valley. Plaques were awarded to the top sixty athletes. The Mustangs improved their season record to 73-32!
Captain Rachel Kittaka led the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 18:47 to place seventh overall. In 2006, Rachel Kittaka ran a 19:55 on the SAME course at IHSA Sectionals. In 2007, at the Pat Savage Invitational, Senior Rachel Kittaka dropped 1 minute and 8 seconds for an outstanding time of 18:47. In 2006, the last individual qualifier (Christen Grumstrup) for the State Championships, ran a time of 19:12. In 2007, Rachel Kittaka ran 25 seconds faster than the 2006 qualifying time for State Championships (19:12) with an outstanding time of 18:47 at the Pat Savage Invitational!!! Rachel Kittaka went out in 5:56 for the first mile, then ran a 6:23 on the second mile, and then ran a 6:28 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 18:47. In a ceremony that took place in the Niles West Indoor Track stadium, Northside Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida accepted a plaque on behalf of Rachel Kittaka, who had to leave the meet early, for placing seventh overall in the meet.
Captain Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs and 24th overall with an outstanding time of 19:54. In 2006, Ani Zotti ran a 20:39 on the SAME course at IHSA Sectionals. In 2007, at the Pat Savage Invitational, Junior Ani Zotti dropped 45 seconds for an outstanding time of 19:54. Ani Zotti went out in 6:25 for the first mile, then ran a 6:43 on the second mile, and then ran a 6:46 on the final mile for an outstanding time of 19:54. In a ceremony that took place in the Niles West Indoor Track stadium, Northside Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida accepted a plaque on behalf of Ani Zotti, who had to leave early, for placing 24th overall in the meet.
Junior Carmen Abelson finished third for the Mustangs and 41st overall with an outstanding time of 20:35. In 2006, Carmen Abelson ran a 20:41 on the SAME course at IHSA Sectionals. In 2007, at the Pat Savage Invitational, Carmen Abelson dropped 6 seconds for an outstanding time of 20:35. Carmen Abelson went out in 6:29 for the first mile, then ran an 7:05 on the second mile, and then ran a 7:01 negative split on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 20:35. Carmen Abelson was also awarded a plaque in a ceremony that took place following the meet in the Niles West Indoor Track stadium.
Junior Anna Parks finished fourth for the Mustangs and 46th overall with an outstanding time of 20:44. In 2006, Anna Parks ran a 21:28 on the SAME course at IHSA Sectionals. In 2007, at the Pat Savage Invitational, Anna Parks dropped 44 seconds for an outstanding time of 20:44. Anna Parks went out in 6:30 for the first mile, then ran a 7:21 on the second mile, and then ran a 6:53 negative split on the final mile, for an outstanding time of 20:44. Anna Parks was also awarded a plaque in a ceremony that took place following the meet in the Niles West Indoor Track stadium.
Sophomore Bessie Nolan completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 50th overall with a personal best time of 20:53. Bessie Nolan dropped 36 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational. Despite, Bessie Nolan's outstanding performance, the Mustangs do not know if she will be available to race at City Championships due to a family commitment. Bessie Nolan was also awarded a plaque in a ceremony that took place following the meet in the Niles West Indoor Track stadium.
Junior Adaora Achufusi finished sixth for the Mustangs and 65th overall with a personal best time of 21:45. Achufusi went out in 6:50 for the Mile, and then ran a 7:25 on the second mile, and then ran a 7:30 on the final mile, for a personal best time of 21:45. Adaora Achufusi finished ahead of 11 teams fifth runner to push the oppositions score back in the standings. Adaora Achufusi was also awarded a ribbon!
Captain Julia Shimada finished seventh for the Mustangs and 69th overall with an outstanding time of 22:17. Senior Julia Shimada finished ahead of 10 teams fifth runner to push the oppositions score back in the standings. Julia Shimada was also awarded a ribbon!
The Northside College Prep Varsity Womens Cross Country Team will be spending the next two weeks preparing for the City Championships. The Mustangs will be seeking a victory over an improved Mather squad, and will also be seeking their first victory over Lane Tech at a City Championship meet as well. The City Championships will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Promitory Point (Lake Shore Drive and 55th). Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills is coming all the way from Sacremento, California for the meet, and will be the Mustangs guest of honor at a Team/Parent Pasta Party, the night before City Championships, on Friday, October 12, 2007 at Northside College Prep.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007, the Northside College Prep Freshman Boys Cross Country Team traveled to Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois for the Pat Savage Invitational.
The Mustangs upset Willowbrook 228-264! to place eighth overall, and posted victories over St.Patrick, Niles West, New Prairie, St.Laurence, Notre Dame-Niles, Wauconda, Wheeling, Northridge Prep, Taft, Niles North, Peoria Manuel, Round Lake, Steinmetz, and Stevenson.
The Mustangs were led by Freshman Noel Lopez. Noel Lopez ran the first mile in 6:18, and the final mile in 6:23 for a personal best time of 12:41 to finish 37th overall. Noel Lopez was also awarded a ribbon for his outstanding performance.
Freshman Miles Austrevich finished second for the Mustangs and 38th overall with a personal best time of 12:46. Miles Austrevich ran the first mile in 6:24, and ran a 6:22 negative split on the final mile for a personal best time of 12:46. Miles Austrevich was also awarded a ribbon for his outstanding performance.
Freshman Erik Zuhlke finished third for the Mustangs and 40th overall with a personal best time of 12:47. Erik Zuhlke ran the first mile in 6:18, and ran a 6:29 on the final mile for a personal best time of 12:47. Erik Zuhlke was also awarded a ribbon for his outstanding performance.
Freshman Fahad Sarvari finished fourth for the Mustangs and 52nd overall with a personal best time of 13:05. Fahad Sarvari ran the first mile in 6:24, and ran a 6:41 on the final mile for a personal best time of 13:05. Fahad Sarvari was also awarded a ribbon for his outstanding performance.
Freshman Luis Gaytan completed the scoring by finishing fifth for the Mustangs and 61st overall with a personal best time of 13:15. Luis Gaytan ran the first mile in 6:30, and the final mile in 6:45 for a personal best time of 13:15. Luis Gaytan was also awarded a ribbon for his outstanding performance.
Freshman Roldan Alegre finished sixth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:18. Roldan Alegre ran the first mile in 6:12, and the final mile in 7:06 for a time of 13:18.
Freshman Alfredo Almaraz finished seventh for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 17:02. Alfredo Almaraz ran the first mile in 8:02, and the final mile in 9:00 for a personal best time of 17:02.
The Mustangs will compete for the Freshman City Title on Saturday, October 13, 2007, at Promitory Point (55th and Lake Shore) at 9:30 am.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity Girls traveled to Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois for the 37th Annual Pat Savage Invitational.
The Mustangs were led by Junior Maria Zdunek with a personal best time of 15:33. Zdunek went out in 7:46 for the first mile, and then ran a 7:47 on the final mile for a personal best time of 15:33. Maria Zdunek dropped 46 seconds off her PR!
Junior Katherine Ceisel finished second for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 16:18. Katy Ceisel went out in 7:58 for the first mile, and then ran a 8:20 on the final mile for a personal best time of 16:18.
Junior Dashiel Bark-Huss finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 16:54. Dashiel Bark-Huss went out in 8:17 for the first mile, and then ran a 8:37 on the final mile for a personal best time of 16:54.
Junior Jennifer Mensah finished fourth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 19:48. Jennifer Mensah went out in 9:12 for the first mile, and then ran a 10:36 on the final mile for a personal best time of 19:48. Mensah dropped 1 minute and 2 seconds from the Leyden Eagle Invitational.
Senior Omandra Zamora finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 22:47.
The Junior Varsity Girls will compete at the City Championships on Saturday, October 13, 2007, at Promitory Point.
On Friday, October 12, 2007, 1964 Olympic Gold Medal Winner Billy Mills came from his California home to Chicago, Illinois to spend practice with the Mustangs and gave an amazing speech at the Mustangs Team/Parents Pasta Party. At the 1964 Olympics, Billy Mills shocked the world when he came from behind to win the Gold Medal. It was the greatest upset in Olympic history. Billy Mills is still the only American to ever win the Gold Medal in the 10,000 Meter run.
Billy Mills was the inspiration for the movie "Running Brave". The movie stars Robbie Benson and chronicles the story of Billy’s life and the many obstacles he overcame to become an Olympic Champion. Billy grew up in poverty and was orphaned at the age of 12. He turned to sports as a positive focus in his life and took up running while attending the Haskell Institute, an Indian boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas, and earned a Cross Country scholarship to the University of Kansas. At the University of Kansas Billy continued to improve as a distance runner. He was named a NCAA All-American cross country runner three times and in 1960 he won the individual title in the Big Eight cross country championships.
In 1960, he did not make the U.S. Olympic Team, but did not give up on his Dream. He trained four more years, and in 1964, Billy Mills made the U.S. Olympic Team. However, his qualifying time for the Olympics was almost a full minute slower than the favorite, Ron Clarke of Australia, and Mills was not even ranked as the top american. The pre-race media coverage focused on Clarke and his expected duel with Mohammad Gammoudi of Tunisia. Billy went largely un-noticed. The field for 10,000 meter final included many Olympic medalists and world record holders. Billy Mills followed his dream, regardless of the odds, and came from behind to win the Gold Medal, and break the Olympic Record, in the most dramatic race and dramatic final lap in Olympic history.
Billy Mills was featured as Sports Illustrated's Athlete of the Century from South Dakota, and was recently interviewed by Tom Brokaw on NBC Nightly News, and by Byrant Gumbel on HBO Real Sports.
Billy Mills was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and is a member of the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame, the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, the Kansas Hall of Fame, the San Diego Hall of Fame, and the National High School Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Men Cross Country Team traveled to Promintory Point at the corner of 55th and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. The Chicago Public School Conference is the largest conference in Illinois, and features over 70 high schools. In the past, only the top 10 schools in Chicago competed at the City Championships. In 2007, all 70 Chicago Public High Schools were invited to the CPS Cross Country Championships. However, at a coaches meeting prior to the meet, schools not in contention for the title were encouraged to enter their Varsity squads in the JV division, in order to provide a smaller field for the Varsity race, and to give teams not in contention a better experience in the JV race. As a result, the field was reduced from 70 to 23 schools. The field for the Varsity division included: Washington, Curie, Kennedy, Mather, Lane Tech, Corliss, Northside College Prep, Lincoln Park, Whitney Young, Lake View, Jones, Kenwood, Taft, Simeon, Foreman, North Lawndale Prep, Hyde Park, Schurz, Noble Street, Al Raby, South Shore, Steinmetz, and Von Steuben.
The Northside school record for wins in a season was 103. The Mustangs entered the meet with a record of 102-20. The Mustangs also had a 2-0 record against Mather, the defending City Champions. In state rankings, Northside and Mather were ranked 1 and 2 respectively in their conference. Lane Tech was also considered a contender after a strong showing against Mather at the Loyola Invitational. Lincoln Park and Whitney Young also experienced success in their final meets leading up to the City Championships as well.
In the first race of the day, the Northside Freshman Boys set a positive vibe for the day by winning the first Freshman City Title in Northside history.
After the Varsity Mustangs completed their warm-up and strides, Northside Principal Barry Rodgers, joined Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, and Assistant Coach Chad Ware in the team huddle, as last minute instructions were given by the coaching staff, and the Team chanted, "Let's Kick this Pig!".
As the gun went off, Mather Junior Ivan Coronel was instantly surrounded by five athletes from Lane Tech. Ivan Coronel has consistently been one of the top runners in Chicago and the State as well. The five athletes from Lane Tech stayed with Coronel through the first mile, and Lane Tech was out to an early lead for the Team title. After receiving some accidental flying elbows from Lane Tech, Coronel broke free from Lane Tech, and dropped them. Lane Tech quickly came back to the rest of the field.
Mather's Ivan Coronel ran a strong race from start to finish and won his first individual Cross Country City title with an outstanding time of 15:43. Lane Tech Sophomore Kulayifi Haji finished in second with a time of 15:59.
Northside Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss finished third overall with an outstanding time of 16:01. In 2006, on the SAME course, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran a time of 17:17 to place 27th at the City Championships. In 2007, Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss dropped 1 minute and 16 seconds, and improved by 24 places to place third overall!!! In a ceremony following the race, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was awarded a medal for placing Third overall!
Lincoln Park Senior Derek Schnake finished fourth with a time of 16:12. Mather Senior Gustavo Martinez finished fifth with a time of 16:15.
Northside Captain Jonathan Kittaka finished second for the Mustangs and sixth overall with an outstanding time of 16:16. In 2006, on the SAME course, Jonathan Kittaka ran a time of 16:35 to place 14th at the City Championships. In 2007, Junior Jonathan Kittaka dropped 19 seconds, and improved eight places to place Sixth overall!! In a ceremony following the race, Jonathan Kittaka was awarded a medal for placing Sixth overall!
Whitney Young's Julian Deville finished seventh overall with a time of 16:18. Mather's Omar Caban finished eighth with a time of 16:21. Lane Tech Senior Eduardo Sanchez finished ninth with a time of 16:24. Lane Tech's Victor Terrazas finished tenth with a time of 16:27.
Northside Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and 11th with an outstanding time of 16:30. In 2006, Cooper Eben was not even in the Varsity division, and is by far one of the most improved athletes in Chicago. In a ceremony following the race, Cooper Eben was awarded a medal for placing eleventh overall!
Lincoln Park's Jacob Cetera finished 12th with a time of 16:37.
Northside young guns, Freshman Wesley Laytham and Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth and fifth for the Mustangs and 13th and 14th overall to complete the scoring for the Mustangs. Wesley Laytham and Charlie Mesimore are two of the greatest Freshman athletes in the history of Northside.
Freshman Wesley Laytham ran a personal best time of 16:39! Laytham dropped 28 seconds from the Pat Savage Invitational! Laytham was the second fastest Freshman in the meet! In a ceremony following the race, Wesley Laytham was awarded a medal for placing 13th overall!
Freshman Charlie Mesimore also ran an outstanding time 16:41! Mesimore was the third fastest Freshman in the meet! In a ceremony following the race, Charlie Mesimore was awarded a medal for placing 14th overall!
Mather's Eddie Torres finished 15th overall with a time of 16:44. Lane Tech's Luis Rodriguez finished 16th overall with a time of 16:46.
Mather's Miguel Medina held off Sirak Areki, Colin Rouser, and Henry Mattingly to secure a one point victory for the Rangers and finish fifth for Mather and 17th overall to complete the scoring for the Rangers with an outstanding time of 16:48.
Lake View Senior Sirak Areki finished 18th overall with a time of 16:51. Whitney Young's Colin Rouser finished 19th overall with a time of 16:51. Lincoln Park Senior Henry Mattingly finished 20th overall with a time of 16:51.
Northside Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 25th overall with a personal best time of 16:59. The Mustangs were the only TEAM in the meet to put six athletes under 17 minutes. It was also the first time in Northside history that six athletes finished under 17 minutes as well.
Northside Junior Simon Vecchioni was spiked in the final mile, and as a result, his shoe came off his foot. Simon Vecchioni showed great mental toughness and finished strong with only one shoe on his foot to place 42nd overall and an outstanding time of 18:32.
Mather won the meet with a Team score of 46. Northside College Prep came in second with a Team score of 47, and the Mustangs posted victories over: Lane Tech (58), Lincoln Park (86), Whitney Young (94), Noble Street (194), Taft (232), South Shore (232), Schurz (248), and Simeon (288), Washington, Curie, Kennedy, Corliss, Jones, Kenwood, Foreman, North Lawndale Prep, Hyde Park, Al Raby, Steinmetz, Von Steuben, and Lake View. The Mustangs posted 21 victories, and now have a season record of 123-21!!!
In an awards ceremony that took place following the meet, the Mustangs were presented with the Second Place CPS Championship shield, and Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Jonathan Kittaka, Cooper Eben, Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Jiasong Yang, and Simon Vecchioni were awarded Silver medals as 2007 CPS Mens Cross Country Runners up.
Although they did not run in the Varsity race at City Championships, Team Captain Preston Buehrer, and Senior Harold Jaffe were also awarded Silver medals for their contributions to the Varsity Team on and off the field this season.
The Northside College Prep Mustangs Second place shield will be displayed at the entrance of Northside College Prep for a week, before being placed in the Cross Country Trophy case.
The bigger victory of the day, may have been the one experienced by each athlete, parent, or fan who spent a few minutes with Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, the honored guest of Coach Jon Gordon and Northside College Prep Mustangs for the City Championships.
Billy Mills stood by the finish, just 50 yards from the starling line, where runners could see him at the start of the race and again at the finish. Throughout the morning, he signed his name to shirts, ribbons, programs and shoes, lots of shoes.
The soft-spoken Olympic veteran was observant as athletes approached him, he engaged them in conversation about their races and swapped training strategies. Mills asked students about what they were reading in school and what they were doing with their lives. The Foreman high school coach, called Billy Mills, "an American Hero".
Billy Mills was cut from the Track Team his Freshman year from his high school. That summer, Mills ran an average of five miles a day without doing a run longer than 11 miles in preparation for his Sophomore year of Cross Country. After the third Cross Country meet of his Sophomore year, Billy Mills went undefeated for the remainder of his high school career, and won the state title his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year.
Billy Mills ran an average of 45-55 Miles a week during his collegiate career at the University of Kansas. After college, Billy Mills ran 80-100 miles a week in preparation for the 1964 Olympics.
For sheer drama, the last lap of the 10,000 meters in the 1964 Olympics has topped anything ever seen in the olympics. After traveling more than six miles, and with only a few desperate yards to go, three men were running arm for arm and leg for leg.
The track was cluttered by stragglers who had been lapped once or more, causing a severe traffic jam, and forcing the leaders to do some fancy broken-field running.
As the last lap began, Australia's Ron Clarke, the world record holder, and Tunisa's Mohamed Gammoundi, and Billy Mills were spread out like sprinters starting the 100 meter dash. Clarke, trying to go around a straggler, veered into Mills, who stumbled and seemed to stop running momentarily. He fell four yards behind and seemed to be out of it. But in the last 50 yards he found running room on the far outside and managed to hurtle himself toward the wire to win by a single stride. Billy's time was 46 seconds faster than he had ever run before and a new Olympic record.
The Northside Mustangs will have a re-match against the City Champions and their friendly rival Mather at the IHSA Regional Championship on Saturday, October 20, 2007, at Schiller Woods. The meet will feature: Schurz, Proviso East, Mather, Kelvyn Park, St.Patrick, Little Village, Fenwick, Foreman, Oak Park, Leyden, Morton, and Northside College Prep.
The Mustangs will be seeking their first IHSA Regional Championship in Northside history. The coaches meeting will take place at 12:30 pm. The Varsity Women's race will start at 1:00 pm. The Varsity Men's race will start at 2:00 p.m. The Awards ceremony will take place at 2:30 pm. The Top 5 Teams at IHSA Regionals will advance to IHSA Sectionals.
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Freshman Boys Cross Country Team traveled to Promintory Point at the corner of 55th and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. The Chicago Public School Conference is the largest conference in Illinois, and features over 70 high schools.
The Northside Freshman Boys won the 2007 CPS Freshman City Title with a score of 27 points!!! The top 8 Teams included: Mather (48), Lane Tech (88), Curie (111), Whitney Young (124), Kenwood (165), Al Raby (197), and Austin (199). The Top 20 athletes in the race were awarded Medals. The Mustangs had five athletes in the top 10!
Mather's Antonio Morales won the individual title with an outstanding time of 11:32.
The Mustangs were led by Dominic Sieminski. Dominic Sieminski ran a personal best time of 11:33, and placed second overall! In a ceremony following the meet, Sieminski was awarded a Medal for placing second overall! Freshman Dominic Sieminski will continue to train with the Varsity Men through the IHSA State Championships as one of the Mustangs 5 alternates.
Jonathan Kriston finished second for the Mustangs and fifth overall with a personal best time of 12:00. The Northside coaching staff had Kriston clocked at 11:55, but the official results had him listed at 12:00. Either way, Jonathan Kriston ran a personal best time and an outstanding race. Jonathan Kriston was awarded a Medal for placing fifth overall in Chicago!
Luis Gaytan finished third for the Mustangs and seventh overall with a personal best time of 12:13. Prior to the meet, Luis Gaytan was the Freshman Boys seventh man, and had a PR of 13:15. Luis Gaytan showed incredible determination and mental toughness and dropped a minute and 2 seconds off his PR, and went from being the seventh fastest athlete on Northside's Freshman Boys Team to the seventh fastest Freshman athlete in Chicago!!! Luis Gaytan was also awarded a Medal for placing seventh overall!
Miles Austrevich finished fourth for the Mustangs and eighth overall with a personal best time of 12:14. Austrevich outkicked Steinmetz Andres Mahmud to the finish line, and dropped 32 second off his PR to earn a Medal and place eigth overall!
Fahad Sarvari finished fifth for the Mustangs and tenth overall to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 12:18. Sarvari dropped 47 seconds off his PR!, and secured the victory by outkicking Whitney Young's Aaron Rouser to the finish! Fahad Sarvari was awarded a Medal for placing tenth overall!
Erik Zuhlke finished sixth for the Mustangs and 13th overall with a personal best time of 12:31. Zuhlke dropped 16 seconds off his PR!, and was awarded a Medal for placing 13th overall.
Noel Lopez finished seventh for the Mustangs and 16th overall and tied his PR with a outstanding time of 12:41. Noel Lopez was awarded a Medal for placing 16th overall.
The Freshman Boys City Champions will be honored at a Team Banquet at 5 pm on November 10, 2007 at Northside College Prep.
On October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Junior Varsity Boys traveled to Promintory Point at the corner of 55th and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. The Chicago Public School Conference is the largest conference in Illinois, and features over 70 high schools. The Junior Varsity division was not scored, but Medals were awarded to the Top 20 JV Athletes in Chicago. The Mustangs took home the majority of those Medals.
After the City Championships, pursuant to IHSA rules, the Mustangs are only allowed to keep 12 athletes on the Varsity roster. Freshman Dominic Sieminski (11:33) was chosen for one of the spots after his outstanding performance in the Freshman Boys race. Senior Preston Buehrer was also chosen for his outstanding Senior leadership and his PR of 16:45. The remaining three spots were determined by the outcome of the Junior Varsity race.
In the Junior Varsity race, Senior Harold Jaffe led the Mustangs by placing 4th overall to earn a Medal with an outstanding time of 11:23. Jaffe will continue training with the Varsity through the IHSA State Championships as an alternate for the Mustangs.
Junior Craig Melhuse finished second for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 11:48. Craig Melhuse is in his first season of Cross Country, and has had impressive workouts, and big time drops in back to back meets, and will also continue training with the Varsity through the IHSA State Championships as an alternate for the Mustangs to gain valuable post season meet experience.
Senior Santino Merino finished third for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 11:51. Merino earned a Varsity letter this season at the Rebel Invitational, and will also continue training with the Varsity through the IHSA State Championships as an alternate for the Mustangs.
Senior Brad Eben finished fourth for the Mustangs in his final high school cross country race with a personal best time of 11:52. Brad Eben earned a Varsity letter his Junior year of Cross Country, and will be honored in the Senior Varsity Blanket ceremony at the Mustangs banquet on November 10, 2007.
Senior James Casper-Shipp finished fifth for the Mustangs in his final high school cross country race with an outstanding time of 12:15. James Casper-Shipp earned a Varsity letter his Junior year of Cross Country, and will be honored in the Senior Varstiy Blanket ceremony at the Mustangs banquet on November 10, 2007.
Junior Spencer Rosenfeld finished sixth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:20. The Mustangs are looking forward to big things from Rosenfeld in the upcoming Track & Field season.
Senior John Mussman finished seventh for the Mustangs in his final high school cross country meet with an outstanding time of 12:26. Mussman is one of the most improved athletes on the Team.
Junior Ted Kalaw finished eighth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:30. The Mustangs are looking forward to Ted Kalaw upcoming Indoor Track & Field season in the Throws and Middle distances, before the start of his lacrosse season.
Junior Brian Chhun finished ninth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:32. Brian Chhun is going to have a major impact for the sprinters in Northside upcoming Track & Field season.
Freshman Rhiday Pandya finished tenth for the Mustangs with a personal best time of 12:45.
Junior Robby Loanzon finished 11th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 12:59.
Junior Coleman Gailloreto finished 12th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:07.
Junior Norman Lee finished 13th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:15.
Sophomore Peter Wilk finished 14th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 13:45. Wilk is also going to have a major impact for the sprinters in Northside upcoming Track & Field season.
Junior Nathan Michaelson finished 15th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 14:15.
Junior Adrian Bonifacio finished 16th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 14:32.
Freshman Alfredo Almaraz finished 17th for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 17:23.
The Mustangs will have a TEAM meeting on Monday, October 15, 2007, at 3:45 pm, to vote on Team Awards, Discuss off-season training, Distribute Team Picture Information (tenatively October 25-26), and Distribute Team Banquet Information (November 10, 2007, 5 pm).
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Boys Cross Country Team traveled to Promintory Point at the corner of 55th and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. The Chicago Public School Conference is the largest conference in Illinois, and features over 70 high schools.
The Northside Sophomore-Freshman Boys placed seventh overall, and posted victories, among others, over Urban Prep, Von Steuben, Kelly, and Al Raby.
Sophomore Forest Cortes led the Mustangs by placing 25th overall with an outstanding time of 12:11. Cortes has consistently been the Mustangs top Sophomore on the Sophomore Team, and the Mustangs are looking forward to his upcoming Track & Field season.
Freshman Roldan Alegre finished second for the Mustangs and 36th overall with a personal best time of 12:28.
Sophomore James Rey finished third for the Mustangs and 38th overall with an outstanding time of 12:40.
Sophomore Thomas Nguyen finished fourth for the Mustangs and 49th overall with an outstanding time of 13:04.
Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon finished fifth for the Mustangs and 54th overall to complete the scoring with a personal best time of 13:18. Andrew Czyszczon has not missed a practice or a meet this season, and is among the leaders for the Cal Ripken, Jr. Award. As a reward, and to help determine the winner of the Cal Ripken, Jr. Award (best attendance), Andrew Czyszczon will continue to train with the Varsity through the IHSA State Championships.
Sophomore Sam Olver finished sixth for the Mustangs and 73rd overall with a personal best time of 14:01.
Sophomore Neibu Tadele outkicked Taft's Nick Gonzalez to finish seventh for the Mustangs and 78th overall with a personal best time of 14:37.
The Sophomore-Freshman Boys Team will be honored at a Team Banquet on Saturday, November 10, 2007.
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Varsity Women Cross Country Team traveled to Promintory Point at the corner of 55th and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois for the City Championships. The Chicago Public School Conference is the largest conference in Illinois, and features over 70 high schools. In the past, only the top 10 schools in Chicago competed at the City Championships. In 2007, all 70 Chicago Public High Schools were invited to the CPS Cross Country Championships. However, at a coaches meeting prior to the meet, schools not in contention for the title were encouraged to enter their Varsity squads in the JV division, in order to provide a smaller field for the Varsity race, and to give teams not in contention a better experience in the JV race. As a result, the field was reduced from 70 to 19 schools.
Prior to 2007, the Northside Varsity Women had placed 2nd in the City Championships to Lane Tech in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Infact, the Mustangs had never beaten Lane Tech in a City Championship meet in the history of Northside College Prep. In 2007, the Mustangs changed their history and beat Lane Tech by a score of 54-79!!!
Whitney Young won the meet with a score of 45 points. Northside finished in second with a score of 54 points and posted victories over: Lane Tech (79), Walter Payton Prep (117), Mather (129), Morgan Park (146), Lincoln Park (193), Kenwood (196), Schurz (217), Simeon (264), Little Village (306), Kennedy (315), Douglass Academey, Jones, Lake View, Steinmetz, Taft, Von Steuben, and Al Raby.
Whitney Young Sophomore Devyn Thompson won her first individual City Title with an outstanding time of 18:11. Whitney Young Sophomore Lavinia Jurkiewicz placed second overall with an outstanding time of 18:17. Whitney Young Freshman Maisie Vaschuska placed third overall with an outstanding time of 18:36.
Northside Senior Rachel Kittaka led the Mustangs and placed fourth overall with a time of 19:03. Kittaka was the fastest Senior in the meet, and was awarded a Medal for placing fourth overall.
Mather Junior Terest Robeldo placed fifth overall with a time of 19:28.
Northside Junior Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs and came within three seconds of her PR, with an outstanding time of 19:38 to place sixth overall. Ani Zotti was awarded a Medal for placing sixth overall.
Morgan Park Sophomore Nyala Eddings placed seventh overall with a time of 19:43. Lane Tech Sophomore Stephanie Pineda placed eigth overall with a time of 20:04.
Northside Junior Anna Parks finished third for the Mustangs and placed 9th overall with a personal best time of 20:07!! Anna Parks was awarded a Medal for placing 9th overall! Anna Parks also ran the fifth fastest time in Northside history!
Payton Prep Sophomore Madison Palffy placed 10th overall with a time of 20:08. Mather Junior Makini Harrison placed 11th overall with a time of 20:12.
Northside Junior Carmen Abelson finished fourth for the Mustangs and placed 12th overall with an outstanding time of 20:22. Carmen Abelson was awarded a Medal for placing 12th overall.
Mather Diana Arellano placed 13th overall with a time of 20:42. Whitney Young Biyang Wang placed 14th overall with an outstanding time of 20:43. Lane Tech Jenny Wojtas placed 15th overall with a time of 20:47. Lane Tech Isabelle Carr placed 16th overall with a time of 20:49. Morgan Park Shantee Garrett placed 17th overall with a time of 20:57. Lane Tech Shakeen Kazmi placed 18th overall with a time of 20:58. Lincoln Park Morgan Kuchan placed 19th overall with a time of 20:59. Payton Prep Alexis Caldero placed 20th overall with a time of 21:05. Payton Prep Skyler Larrimore placed 21st overall with a time of 21:09. Lane Tech Michelle Rodriguez placed 22nd overall with a time of 21:13.
Northside Junior Adaora Achufusi finished fifth for the Mustangs and 23rd overall to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 21:14.
Northside Freshman Su Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 29th overall with an outstanding time of 21:53.
Northside Senior Julia Shimada finished seventh for the Mustangs and 30th overall with an outstanding time of 22:03.
At an Awards Ceremony following the meet, the Mustangs were presented with 2007 City Championships Runner's up Shield. The Shield will be displayed at the entrance of Northside College Prep for a week, before it is moved to the Trophy Case.
The Mustangs also received during the ceremony, Silver Medals for placing second in the City Championships. The silver medals were awarded to Rachel Kittaka, Ani Zotti, Anna Parks, Carmen Abelson, Adaora Achufusi, Su Yang, and Julia Shimada. Senior Lena Guerriero was also awarded a silver medal for her contributions to the Varsity Team on and off the field this season.
After the meet, the City Champion Whitney Young Girls Team shared the surplus from their Tailgate Party with the entire Northside College Prep Cross Country Team. Northside enjoyed it, and a special thanks to the Whitney Young coaching staff and parents.
The Mustangs will travel to Schiller Woods for the IHSA Regional Championship on October 20, 2007 to take on Little Village, Proviso East, Kelvyn Park, Foreman, Trinity, Fenwick, Oak Park, Leyden, Schurz, Mather, and Morton. The Top 5 Teams will advance to the IHSA Sectional Championships.
A mandatory TEAM meeting will take place on Monday, October 15, 2007, at 3:45 pm.
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Northside College Prep Sophomore-Freshman Girls Team traveled to the cornor of 55th and Lake Shore Drive to Promintory Point for the City Championships.
The Northside Sophomore-Freshman Girls Team placed eighth overall, and were lead by Freshman Karlyn Gehring. Gehring placed 14th overall with a personal best time of 14:22. Freshman Karlyn Gehring will continue training as an alternate for the Mustangs Varsity squad through the IHSA State Championships.
Sophomore Karen Li finished second for the Mustangs and 34th overall with a time of 15:24.
Sophomore Merita Bushi finished third for the Mustangs and 44th overall with a time of 16:05.
Sophomore Jessica Tapia finished fourth for the Mustangs and 48th overall with a time of 16:11.
Sophomore Mahaim Haider finished fifth for the Mustangs to complete the scoring and 49th overall with a time of 16:12.
Freshman Lily Ho finished sixth for the Mustangs and 67th overall with a time of 18:02.
Mather won the Sophomore-Freshman division with a score of 31. Whitney Young finished in second with a score of 63. Lake View finished third with a score of 87. Jones finished in fourth with a score of 108. Taft finished fifth with a score 128. Morgan Park finished sixth with a score of 143. Lane Tech finished seventh. Northside College Prep finished eighth. Kenwood finished ninth with a score of 233. Manley finished 10th with a score of 266. Simeon finished 11th with a score of 296.
The Sophomore-Freshman Girls Team will be honored at a Team banquet on November 10, 2007.
On Saturday, October 20, 2007, the Northside Varsiy Men Cross Country Team traveled to Schiller Woods on the corner of Cumberland and Irving Park Road in Chicago for the IHSA Regional Championships. The meet featured the top 12 Teams in the Region. The Top 5 Teams in the meet advance to IHSA Sectionals, and the top 5 athletes on non qualifying Teams also advance to Sectionals.
One week ago, the Mustangs lost to Mather by a heartbreaking one point for the City Title. Vince Lombardi said the greatest achievement is not in never falling, but in rising again after you have fallen. The Northside Mustangs showed incredible heart, determination, mental toughness, and guts on Saturday by beating the City Champions by a score of 102-113 to eliminate Mather and advance as a Team to the IHSA Sectional Championships for the first time in Northside history!!! The Mustangs are now one meet away from going to the IHSA State Championships!!!
Fenwick won the IHSA Regional Championships with a score of 36. Oak Park River Forest finished second with a score of 53. The Leyden Eagles finished in third with a score of 87. Morton finished in fourth with a score of 101. Northside College Prep finished in fifth with a score of 102 to advance to the IHSA Sectional Championships!!!, and posted victories over Mather (113), St.Patrick (207), Proviso East (240), Schurz (285), and Foreman. Kelvyn Park and Little Village did not show up to the meet. The Mustangs now have a season record of 130-25!!!
Oak Park River Forest Senior Patrick Geoghegan won the meet with an outstanding time of 15:40. Mather Junior Ivan Coronel finished second overall, and showed great sportsmanship by encouraging his opponents as he passed them, and ran an outstanding time of 15:53.
The Mustangs were led by Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss. Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran the first mile in 5:06, and went through two miles in 10:40, and finished with an outstanding time of 16:13 to place tenth overall in the Region! Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was also the second fastest Sophomore in the meet!
Captain Jonathan Kittaka finished second for the Mustangs and 12th overall with an outstanding time of 16:22. Junior Jonathan Kittaka ran the first mile in 5:10, and went through two miles in 10:52, and outkicked Mather Junior Gustavo Martinez to the finish with an outstanding time of 16:22.
Sophomore Cooper Eben finished third for the Mustangs and 24th overall with an outstanding time of 16:43. Cooper Eben ran the first mile in 5:16, and went through two miles in 11:09, and finished with an outstanding time of 16:43.
Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs and 25th overall with an outstanding time of 16:44. Charlie Mesimore ran the first mile in 5:15, and went through two miles in 11:07, and finished with an outstanding time of 16:44. Charlie Mesimore was also the second fastest Freshman in the meet!
Freshman Wesley Laytham finished fifth for the Mustangs and 31st overall to complete the scoring with an outstanding time of 17:00. Wesley Laytham ran the first mile in 5:24, and went through two miles in 11:24, and outkicked Mather Junior Omar Caban to the finish to secure vital points for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 17:00. Wesley Laytham was also the third fastest Freshman in the meet!
Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 37th overall with an outstanding time of 17:15. Jiasong Yang ran the first mile in 5:24, and went through two miles in 11:26, and finished with an outstanding time of 17:15.
Junior Simon Vecchioni finished seventh for the Mustangs and 49th overall with an outstanding time of 18:41. Simon Vecchioni ran the first mile in 5:31, and went through two miles in 12:11, and outkicked Proviso East Junior Adrian Hampton to the finish with an outstanding time of 18:41.
All 7 athletes in the Mustangs Top 7 ran negative splits on the final mile!!! As a result of their outstanding TEAM performance, and great mental toughness and determination, all 7 Varsity athletes will be given the "IT" AWARD!!!
During the IHSA State series, each Team is allowed to designate five alternates that may be used at anytime. Following the Varsity Men race, the Northside alternates raced on the Regional course against Oak Park River Forest alternates and Mather alternates, to gain valuable experience and to see if they can help the Mustangs Top 7 runners at IHSA Sectionals. Northside Senior Harold Jaffe ran an outstanding time of 18:13 and will race for the Varsity at IHSA Sectionals. Northside Freshman Dominic Sieminski ran a personal best time of 18:22. Northside Junior Craig Melhuse ran a personal best time of 18:53. Northside Senior Santino Merino ran a time of 19:31. Northside Senior Preston Buehrer did not race, but is training and is getting closer to coming back, and could be ready by the State meet.
The Mustangs will spend the next week preparing for the IHSA Sectional Championships!!!
On Saturday, October 20, 2007, the Northside Varsiy Women Cross Country Team traveled to Schiller Woods on the corner of Cumberland and Irving Park Road in Chicago for the IHSA Regional Championships. The meet featured the top 12 Teams in the Region. The Top 5 Teams in the meet advance to IHSA Sectionals, and the top 5 athletes on non qualifying Teams also advance to Sectionals.
Although the Mustangs were one of the top ranked teams going into the IHSA Regional meet, they were going to have to qualify for IHSA Sectionals without injured runner Carmen Abelson. Junior Carmen Abelson has consistently been one of the Mustangs top four runners this season, and although she couldn't run, she was at the IHSA Regional meet supporting her teammates, and provided them with extra motivation.
The Mustangs responded by placing Third at the IHSA Regional Championships to qualify for IHSA Sectional Championships for the second consecutive year! It was also the highest Regional finish in Northside history!
Oak Park River Forest won the meet with a score of 48. Fenwick finished in second with a score of 52. Northside College Prep finished in third place with a score of 87, and posted victories over: Leyden (90), Mather (91), Morton (143), Trinity (196), Proviso East, Little Village, and Foreman. Schurz Girls Team and Kelvyn Park did not show up to the meet.
Oak Park River Forest Sophomore Katherine Rack was Individual Regional Champion with a personal best time of 17:52. Fenwick Sophomore Margaret Connelly placed second overall with a time of 18:36. Leyden Junior Jamie Johnson placed third overall with a time of 18:48.
Northside Senior Rachel Kittaka finished fourth overall in the Region with an outstanding time of 19:11. Captain Rachel Kittaka ran the first mile in 5:51, and went through two miles in 12:38, and finished with an outstanding time of 19:11. It was also the highest individual finish at an IHSA Regional meet in Northside history!
Captain Ani Zotti finished second for the Mustangs and ninth overall in the Region with an outstanding time of 20:01. Junior Ani Zotti ran the first mile in 6:04, and went through two miles in 13:05, and finished with an outstanding time of 20:00.
Junior Anna Parks finished third for the Mustangs and 17th overall in the Region with an outstanding time of 20:42. Anna Parks ran the first mile in 6:20, and went through two miles in 13:55, and finished with an outstanding time of 20:42.
Sophomore Bessie Nolan finished fourth for the Mustangs and 25th overall in the Region with a time of 21:03. Bessie Nolan ran the first mile in 6:20, and went through two miles in 13:58, and finished with a time of 21:03.
Junior Adoara Achufusi finished fifth for the Mustangs and 32nd overall in the Region to complete the scoring for the Mustangs with a time of 21:28. Adaora Achufusi ran the first mile in 6:34, and went through two miles in 14:08, and finished with a time of 21:28.
Freshman Su Yang finished sixth for the Mustangs and 41st overall in the Region with a time of 22:35. Su Yang ran the first mile in 6:42, and went through two miles in 14:46, and finished with a time of 22:35.
Senior Julia Shimada finished seventh for the Mustangs and 47th overall in the Region with a time of 23:38. Captain Julia Shimada ran the first mile in 7:14, and went through two miles in 15:31, and finished with a time of 23:38.
In the alternates race, Northside Freshman Karlyn Gehring won it with a personal best time of 23:56.
The Mustangs will spend next week preparing for the IHSA Sectional Championships!!!
From August 2004 to May 2007, the Mustangs Team roster went from 17 athletes to a record 103 athletes. In May 2007, the Mustangs lost four of their top 7 athletes on the Mens Team, and lost three of their Top 7 athletes on the Womens Team to graduation. However, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon announced at a Team Meeting in May 2007, that this would be the greatest Mens and Womens Team in Northside history. But all returning members of the Northside Cross Country Team would have to run a minimum of 100 miles in order to try-out for the Team in August 2007. Automatic Varsity letters would only be awarded to athletes that reached 500 miles or more. Gordon also announced that athletes wouldn’t be cut from the Team based on ability, but only for lack of heart and dedication. Any athlete that missed 13 practices during the season would be dismissed from the squad. Students were outraged at the sacrifices they would have to make to become an athlete. The Mustangs roster quickly went from 103 athletes to 80 athletes, and during the process, they became the greatest Cross Country Team in Northside history.
During the summer of 2007, the Mustangs set an all-time high in total team mileage, and the highly motivated Mustangs on weekends ran 6.2 miles to IHOP for breakfast, played capture the flag on a mile long course in a four hour game that required the speed of a sprinter and the endurance of a marathoner. The games were appropriately officiated by Northside marathon legend and Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida. Most importantly, summer practices were fun, so athletes were willing to make the sacrifices to attend practice in the summer. During June 2007 and July 2007, the highly motivated Mustangs trained together for a total of 24 days during the summer, as early as 6:30 am in the morning, and each athlete emailed their individual weekly miles religiously every Saturday to Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon.
Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss ran over 600 miles. Junior Jonathan Kittaka, Sophomore Cooper Eben, and Sophomore Jiasong Yang ran over 500 miles. Senior Rachel Kittaka, and Sophomore Andrew Czyszczon ran over 400 miles. Junior Simon Vecchioni, Freshman Charlie Mesimore, and Freshman Wesley Laytham ran between 200-300 miles. The rest of the Mustangs ran between 100-200 miles during the summer.
On August 13, 2007, the Mustangs began their first official week of practice. Northside Assistant Coach and former NCAA Division I Butler Track star Chad Ware was introduced to the Mustangs. Chad Ware was not only a mentor for Northside athletes, but he also ran every workout with the Varsity athletes as well. As a result of the extra speed in practice, barriers were being broken every week. His contributions to the Team as an assistant coach were priceless.
The first week of practice, the Mustangs focused on running form and learned to run five miles with eggs in both hands without breaking them. They learned how to properly train in the weight room for speed, strength, endurance, and injury prevention. The Mustangs quickly found themselves in the weight room every day after practice. Senior Preston Buehrer, Junior Ted Kalaw, and Junior Spencer Rosenfeld set bench press records. Freshman Wesley Laytham, Dominic Sieminski, Roldan Alegre, and Jonathan Kriston earned Cross Country Pull-up t-shirts by doing 20 consecutive pull-ups. A couple of Northside Freshman girls requested a lower standard for girls for the pull-ups t-shirt. Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon quickly told them about Northside Alumni Natalie Hanigan’s school record of twenty-six pull-ups, and their faith was restored.
While the lower divisions always ran their warm-up in Legion Park, the Varsity quickly learned that their warm-up runs could be as long as Chicago to Evanston, and after doing 50 push-ups and crunches, they would engage in intense hill training, before a long cool down back to Chicago from Evanston.
The Mustangs did a lot of Team building activities during the first nine days of practice, and a strong Team concept was starting to develop.
After the first 10 days of practice Junior Adaora Achufusi arrived for her first practice, only to hear anger from Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon for missing the first 10 days of practice. At the time, Achufusi wondered why is he being so mean about missing practice, she ran the required 100 miles, and in her mind she was just a “JV” runner doing this to stay in shape for Track. Achufusi was unaware that Gordon believes and knows that every athlete on the Team could run at the Varsity level with proper training, and has seen it happen year after year, including an athlete (i.e. Michael James) that could run no further then down his driveway and to his mailbox when he started, and 500 miles later he ended his career as Gatorade National Cross Country Athlete of the year, and a scholarship to Harvard. After Junior Adaora Achufusi missed her twelfth practice, she didn’t miss another practice, and if she had an afternoon conflict, she arranged for Coach Gordon to be at Northside at 6:00 am to do the workout. As a result of Adaora Achufusi’s dedication and hard work, she went from the JV Team to the Varsity Team and ended her 2007 Cross Country season as the Mustangs fourth fastest runner on the Varsity at the IHSA Sectional Championships, and proved to herself that her potential in Cross Country and Track is unlimited.
After the first 12 days of practice, Junior Norman Lee approached Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon before practice. He had missed the first 12 days of practice, and wanted to join the Team, and was fully aware that he couldn’t miss any practices the remainder of the season. Coach Jon Gordon brought Norman Lee to practice that day, and announced to the Team that Norman Lee wanted to be on this Team, and that he was aware that he missed the first 12 practices, and that he couldn’t miss a single practice or he would be dismissed from the squad, and despite those odds, he was willing to do it to be on this Team. All members of the Northside Mens and Womens Cross Country Team stood up and cheered and clapped for Norman Lee. At that moment, the Mustangs knew they were a strong team on every level in spirit and dedication, and everyday when roll was called the coaching staff looked to see if this was going to be the day when Norman Lee was cut from the squad, and it never happened. Norman Lee kept his promise to the Team and did not miss a single practice the rest of the season.
Prior to the 13th day of practice, Junior Craig Melhuse approached Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon about joining the Team. Coach Jon Gordon informed him that the only way he could do it was to make up practices every morning at 6 am. Melhuse agreed to the terms. Coach Jon Gordon brought Craig Melhuse to practice that day, and announced to the Team that Craig Melhuse wanted to be on this Team, and that he was willing to come every morning at 6 am to make up practices, and once again the entire Cross Country Team stood up and cheered. Junior Craig Melhuse dedication to the Team paid off, without a running base, he ran PR after PR, and earned a Medal at the JV City Championships, and was also one of the Mustangs top alternates for the Varsity in the IHSA State series, and after a summer of training, he will provide the Mustangs with the depth they need to go to State in 2008.
The week before the Mustangs first meet, the Mustangs had a Team Time Trial, and the Varsity roster for the St.Patrick Invitational was announced. After the Team Time Trial, the Mustangs gathered in the Northside Cafeteria to meet U.S. Steeplechase Champion, former Michigan High School Cross Country State Champion, and Sports Nutritionist Thomas Chorny. Chorny told the Mustangs that he used to get sick a lot before races, and didn’t reach his potential as a runner until he changed his eating habits. He also stressed that only water should be drank before a race, and that if Gatorade was used, it could only be used 10 minutes before the gun was going to go off. Last, he told the Mustangs that they were all in danger of various diseases if they didn’t change their eating habits right away, and that even the Mustangs Pasta Party had to be changed to include enough Protein and essential fats. The Mustangs enjoyed their informative lecture from U.S. Champion Thomas Chorny and the Mustangs made the appropriate changes in their diet, and Team Pasta Party as well.
The night before the Mustangs first meet of the season, the Team had a Team Pasta Party, and watched the movie “Running Brave” about Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, the Mustangs guest speaker for the night before the 2007 City Championships. The Varsity Women responded the next day by bringing home the Third place Trophy from the St.Patrick Invitational. The Varsity Men responded by upsetting the defending City Champions, Mather, and bringing home the Second place Trophy from the St.Patrick Invitational. Although the Varsity Women’s performance at St.Patrick was expected (2nd in the City Championships three consecutive years), only the Northside coaching staff and the seven Men that toed the line for Northside knew that day what was about to unfold and happen. The other teams were in total disbelief. They thought that it had to be that the 98 degree-day gave Northside an advantage over everyone, or that the course somehow gave Northside an advantage, or that there was something wrong with all the other Teams in the meet. It was none of the above. It was the result of a summer of hard work. The Mustangs Varsity Men were 15-1, and were instant contenders for the City Title, after finishing in fourth place the year before, and losing 4 of their top 7 athletes. The Mustangs Varsity Women were 13-2, after finishing in second place the year before, and losing 3 of their top 7 athletes to graduation. The Varsity Women quickly learned that they would be chasing St.Patrick Invitational Champion Whitney Young for the City title instead of Lane Tech this year.
The Mustangs followed the St.Patrick Invitational with another outstanding meet at the Rebel Invitational in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Mustangs upset Libertyville, and did some damage against the best high schools in Wisconsin as well, including Big Foot, and Manitowoc. After the Meet, the Mustangs were treated by the Northside parents to an outstanding Team Tailgate party. With trips to face out of state competition on the U.S. National Cross Country course, Team Pasta Partys, Team Tailgate partys, and special guests in practice, including U.S. Champions, and Olympians, the Northside coaching staff made Cross Country a fun experience.
The VARSITY WOMEN went on to WIN the Gordon Tech Invitational, with an impressive 1-2-3 finish, and brought home Team Trophies from the St.Patrick Invitational (3rd overall), Mather Invitational (2nd overall), and Leyden Invitational (3rd overall). The Varsity Women were awarded a plaque in honor of placing 2nd in the City Championships, and also placed 3rd in the IHSA Regional Championships.
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Senior Rachel Kittaka came within 15 seconds of qualifying for State with an outstanding time of 18:49. Captain Rachel Kittaka also had an impressive finish and out kicked several athletes in the final 300 meters of the race. Rachel Kittaka ran her first high school race on August 31, 2004 with a time of 22:08. After summers of 400, 500, and 425 miles, Rachel Kittaka finished her high school career with an outstanding time of 18:49. During her 2007 season, Rachel Kittaka earned Medals at the St.Patrick Invitational (6th overall), Rebel Invitational (21st overall), Gordon Tech Invitational (1st overall), Libertyville Invitational (18th overall), Leyden Invitational (4th overall), Pat Savage Invitational (7th overall), and City Championships (4th overall). Rachel Kittaka holds the school record for 4K with a time of 16:22. Rachel Kittaka also holds the school record for 3 miles with a time of 18:39. Rachel Kittaka is the greatest female distance runner in Northside history!
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Junior Ani Zotti ran the second fastest time in Northside history with a PERSONAL BEST TIME of 19:21. During her 2007 season, Captain Ani Zotti earned Medals at the St.Patrick Invitational (10th overall), Gordon Tech Invitational (2nd overall), Leyden Invitational (11th overall), Pat Savage Invitational (24th overall), and City Championships (6th overall).
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Junior Anna Parks ran an outstanding time of 20:20. During her 2007 season, Junior Anna Parks earned Medals at the Gordon Tech Invitational (6th overall), and a plaque at the Pat Savage Invitational, and a Medal at City Championships (9th overall).
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Junior Adaora Achufusi ran a PERSONAL BEST TIME of 21:03. Adaora Achufusi is one of the Most Improved athletes on the Team.
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Sophomore Bessie Nolan ran an outstanding time of 21:06 to complete the scoring for the Mustangs.
At IHSA Sectional Championships, in her first Varsity race, Freshman Karlyn Gehring ran a PERSONAL BEST TIME of 21:55. Karlyn Gehring dropped 2 minutes in one week of her PR!!!
At IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Senior Julia Shimada ran an outstanding time 22:04.
A special Congratulations to Whitney Young Coach Bob Geiger, and Whitney Young runners Lavinia Jurkiewicz, Devyn Thompson, Maisie Vachuska, Rena Rhone, Rachel Joravsky, Biyang Wang, and Allory Reif on qualifying for the 2007 IHSA State Championships. In 2006, Whitney Young finished third in the CPS City Championships. In a one year span, in 2007, the Dolphins went from third to first for the City title, and earned a Trip to the State Championships by placing fifth at the IHSA Sectional Championships.
The Northside Varsity Women will be honored at a Team Banquet on November 10, 2007 in the Northside Cafeteria from 5pm – 8 pm.
In 2007, the VARSITY MEN set a new school record for WINS in a season with a record of 134 – 40! The Varsity Men WON the Mather Invitational, Leyden Invitational, and brought home Team Trophies from the St.Patrick Invitational (2nd Place), Gordon Tech Invitational (3rd Place), and Pat Savage Invitational (3rd place). The Mustangs received a plaque from the City of Chicago for placing 2nd in the City Championships, and also placed 5th in the IHSA Regional Championships.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Captain Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss shoe fell off in the first ¼ mile of the race. It is hard enough to run a race with two shoes, but one shoe causes a lot of problems because every step is uneven with the ground. Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss showed incredible mental toughness and pure guts by running the remaining 2.75 miles with only one shoe, and an outstanding time of 16:21. During the 2007 season, Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss earned Medals at the Gordon Tech Invitational (6th place), Leyden Invitational (4th Place), Pat Savage Invitational (9th overall), and City Championships (3rd overall). Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was also the fastest Sophomore at the Mather Invitational. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss is ranked as the third fastest athlete in Northside history with a PR of 15:57. He has been an outstanding Team Captain, and a few weeks prior to the IHSA Sectional Championships, ran a set of Mile repeats on the Track faster then any Northside athlete ran in the mile last season. As a result, the best is yet to come. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss is capable of breaking every Northside Distance Track & Field record during his Sophomore year of high school. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss is one of the most valuable athletes on the Team.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Captain Jonathan Kittaka ran a time of 16:38. A 16:38 is an elite time, and it is an outstanding race time, but it doesn’t fully illustrate the season that Jonathan Kittaka had during his Junior year of high school. Jonathan Kittaka ran a 16:06 on the SAME course this season at the Pat Savage Invitational, and ran a PR of 15:56 at the Leyden Invitational, the second fastest time ever run by a Northside athlete. During the 2007 season, Jonathan Kittaka earned Medals at the St.Patrick Invitational (10th overall), Rebel Invitational (22nd overall), Gordon Tech Invitational (7th overall), Leyden Invitational (3rd place), Pat Savage Invitational (8th overall), and City Championships (6th overall). Jonathan Kittaka is one of the most valuable athletes on the Team.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Freshman Wesley Laytham finished third for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 16:47. Wesley Laytham dropped 13 seconds from the Pat Savage Invitational, which was held on the same course. Wesley Laytham also ran the fourth fastest time by a Freshman at IHSA Sectionals!!! During the 2007 season, Wesley Laytham ran a PR of 16:39 at the 2007 City Championships. Wesley Laytham was awarded a Medal at the Mather Invitational (3rd fastest Freshman) and a plaque at the Pat Savage Invitational, and a Medal in the City Championships (13th overall). The Northside Mustangs coaching staff projects that Wesley Laytham will break 16 minutes in 2008, after he builds a summer running base. If you were to describe Wesley Laytham’s Freshman season with one word, it would be AWESOME.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside Freshman Charlie Mesimore finished fourth for the Mustangs with an outstanding time of 16:48. Charlie Mesimore equaled his performance at the Pat Savage Invitational, and ran the fifth fastest time by a Freshman at IHSA Sectionals!!! During the 2007 season, Charlie Mesimore ran a PR of 16:37 at the Leyden Invitational. Charlie Mesimore was awarded Medals at the Gordon Tech Invitational (14th overall), Leyden Invitational (14th overall), and Mather Invitational (2nd fastest Freshman), and City Championships (14th overall). The Northside Mustangs coaching staff projects that Charlie Mesimore will break 16 minutes in 2008, after he builds a summer running base. If you were to describe Charlie Mesimore’s Freshman season with one word, it would also be AWESOME.
Freshman Wesley Laytham and Freshman Charlie Mesimore are also great teammates, and have a work ethic that is second to none. They have also had a positive impact on all of the athletes throughout the Team, including all of the Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Sophomore Jiasong Yang finished fifth for the Mustangs with a time of 17:04 to complete the scoring. Jiasong Yang dropped 13 seconds from the Pat Savage Invitational, which was held on the same course. Jiasong Yang ran his PR at the 2007 City Championships with an outstanding time of 16:59. Jiasong Yang is one of the mentally toughest athletes on the Team, and also has a great work ethic.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Sophomore Cooper Eben finished sixth for the Mustangs with a time of 17:06. Although a 17:06 is an outstanding time, and an elite time, it does not illustrate the season that Cooper Eben had during his Sophomore year of High School. Cooper Eben has had hamstring problems the last two weeks, and raced with less than his best to help his teammates. Cooper Eben has consistently been the Mustangs third man this season, and ran a PR of 16:22 at the Leyden Invitational. During the 2007 season, Cooper Eben broke 17 minutes for the first time in his high school career at the Libertyville Invitational, and has run in the 16s the entire season until IHSA Sectionals. A year ago, Cooper Eben ran in the 18s at the JV Championships, and after a summer of 500 miles his time quickly dropped to his PR of 16:22. Cooper Eben medaled at the Gordon Tech Invitational, Mather Invitational, Leyden Invitational, Pat Savage Invitational and the City Championships (11th overall). Sophomore Cooper Eben is one of the most improved athletes on the Team.
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Senior Harold Jaffe ran his final Cross Country race of his high school career with an outstanding time of 18:27. Very few people on the team are around that remember his Sophomore year of high school. But Harold Jaffe walked with a cane his Sophomore year of high school, and went from walking with a cane his Sophomore year, to the 7th fastest athlete on the Northside Varsity Cross Country Team his Senior year of high school. Harold Jaffe is an outstanding individual and also has the best sportsmanship on the Team.
In the alternates race at IHSA Sectional Championships, Freshman Dominic Sieminski ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 18:02. If the Mustangs had qualified for State, Sieminski would have been promoted to the Varsity as their 7th man. Dominic Sieminski has a great future in the sport.
In the alternates race, Junior Simon Vecchioni ran a time of 18:52. Junior Simon Vecchioni has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, and tremendous work ethic during the 2007 season. For the majority of the season, he was the Mustangs 7th man on the Varsity, and regularly finished ahead of opposing Teams fifth runners. Simon Vecchioni best race came at the Pat Savage Invitational, where he ran a PR of 18:05. Simon Vecchioni also set a record in the weight room, a feat of endurance and strength that will never be broken. Junior Simon Vecchioni did 1,000 sit-ups with a 12 lbs medicine ball. It took over an hour to do 1000 consecutive reps with a 12 lbs medicine ball. The previous record was held by Preston Buehrer at 600 consecutive reps with a 12 lbs medicine ball. Simon Vecchioni is one of the Mustangs top 800 meter runners, and the Mustangs are looking forward to his upcoming Track & Field season.
In the alternates race, Senior Santino Merino in his final cross country race, ran a time of 21:07. Merino also passed the pace cart in the final 100 meters of the alternates race. Santino Merino earned a Varsity letter this season at the Rebel Invitational. Santino Merino also earned a Medal in the JV race at the City Championships.
In the alternates race, Co-Cal Ripken Jr. Award leader, Sophomore Sam Olver ran a time of 22:06, and dropped over 9 minutes from IHSA Regionals. Sam Olver did not miss a single practice or meet in 2007.
A special Congratulations to Mather Coach Dale DeVinney and Junior Ivan Coronel on qualifying for the IHSA State Championships with an outstanding time of 15:43. In 2006, Ivan Coronel ran a 17:06 at IHSA Sectionals as a Sophomore. In a one year span, after an outstanding Track season, and summer of hard work, in 2007, Ivan Coronel dropped a minute and 23 seconds to qualify for the 2007 IHSA State Championships with an outstanding time of 15:43.
The Northside Varsity Men will be honored at a Team banquet on November 10, 2007 at the Northside Cafeteria from 5 pm – 8 pm.
The following AWARDS were announced at the banquet:
(1) Karlyn Gehring, (2) Lily Ho, (3) Su Yang, (4) Alfredo Almaraz, (5) Roldan Alegre, (6) Miles Austrevich, (7) Luis Gaytan, (8) Jonathan Kriston, (9) Wesley Laytham, (10) Noel Lopez, (11) Charlie Mesimore, (12) Rhiday Pandya, (13) Fahad Sarvari, (14) Dominic Sieminski, and (15) Erik Zuehlke.
2007 FRESHMAN CITY XC CHAMPION TROPHIES (Freshman Athletes that raced in the Freshman division and won the 2007 Chicago Public School Cross Country Championships).
(1) Dominic Sieminski, (2) Jonathan Kriston, (3) Luis Gaytan, (4) Miles Austrevich, (5) Erik Zuehlke, (6) Fahad Sarvari, and (7) Noel Lopez.
2007 FRESHMAN MUSTANG AWARD: Lily Ho and Jonathan Kriston
2007 FRESHMAN MVP AWARD: Karlyn Gehring and Dominic Sieminski
SOPHOMORE LETTERS (Sophomore and/or Freshman athletes that participated in one or more races at the Sophomore level of competition and finished the season as a member of the Team. Awarded a Medium "N").
(1) Lily Ho, (2) Alfredo Almaraz, (3) Roldan Alegre, (4) Miles Austrevich, (5) Luis Gaytan, (6) Jonathan Kriston, (7) Noel Lopez, (8) Rhiday Pandya, (9) Fahad Sarvari, and (10) Erik Zuehlke (11) Karen Li, (12) Merita Bushi, (13) Mahaim Haider, (14) Kasia Rojek, (15) Jessica Tapia, (16) Weronika Zuczek, (17) Neal Capapas, (18) Forrest Cortes, (19) Andrew Czyszczon, (20) Thomas Nguyen, (21) Sam Olver, (22) James Rey, (23) Nebiu Tadele, and (24) Peter Wilk.
2007 SOPHOMORE ACADEMIC AWARD: Mahaim Haider and Andrew Czyszczon
2007 SOPHOMORE MUSTANG AWARD: Mahaim Haider and Andrew Czyszczon
2007 SOPHOMORE MVP AWARD: Karen Li and Forrest Cortes
JUNIOR VARSITY LETTERS (Seniors and/or Junior athletes that participated in one or more races at the Junior Varsity level of competition and finished the season as a member of the Team. Awarded a Medium "N").
(1) Dashiell Barkhuss, (2) Katy Ceisel, (3) AJ Farkas, (4) Omandra Zamora, (5) Maria Zdunek, (6) Adrian Bonifacio, (7) James Casper-Shipp, (8) Brian Chhun, (9) Rafael Confino, (10) Brad Eben, (11) Coleman Gailloreto, (12) Irfan Hussain, (13) Ted Kalaw, (14) Robby Loanzon, (15) Craig Melhuse, (16) Nathan Michaelson, (17) John Mussman, (18) Spencer Rosenfeld, (19) Norman Lee, and Jennifer Mensah (20).
2007 ROOKIE HARRIER AWARD: Maria Zdunek and Craig Melhuse
VARSITY LETTERS (Senior Captains, and/or Athletes that were among our Top 7 (Top 8 in Wisconsin) in a Varsity race or among our Top 7 times on the day or ran 500 or more miles during the summer. Awarded a Large "N").
(1) Preston Buehrer, (2) Cooper Eben, (3) Harold Jaffe, (4) Jonathan Kittaka, (5) Wesley Laytham, (6) Santino Merino, (7) Charlie Mesimore, (8) Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, (9) Dominic Sieminski, (10) Simon Vecchioni, (11) Jiasong Yang, (12) Carmen Abelson, (13) Adaora Achufusi, (14) Karlyn Gehring, (15) Lena Guerriero, (16) Rachel Kittaka, (17) Bessie Nolan, (18) Anna Parks, (19) Julia Shimada, (20) Su Yang, and (21) Ani Zotti.
2007 VARSITY CITY XC RUNNERS-UP TROPHIES (Varsity Athletes that raced in the Varsity division and placed second in the 2007 Chicago Public School Cross Country Championships).
(1) Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, (2) Jonathan Kittaka, (3) Cooper Eben, (4) Charlie Mesimore, (5) Wesley Laytham, (6) Jiasong Yang, and (7) Simon Vecchioni
(1) Rachel Kittaka, (2) Ani Zotti, (3) Anna Parks, (4) Carmen Abelson, (5) Adaora Achufusi, (6) Su Yang, and (7) Julia Shimada
2007 VARSITY IHSA SECTIONAL QUALIFER BRONZE STATUES (Varsity Athletes that raced on the IHSA Regional Team that qualified for IHSA Sectional Championships and/or athletes that raced in the IHSA Sectional Championships).
(1) Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, (2) Jonathan Kittaka, (3) Wesley Laytham, (4) Charlie Mesimore, (5) Jiasong Yang, (6) Cooper Eben, (7) Harold Jaffe, and (8) Simon Vecchioni
(1) Rachel Kittaka, (2) Ani Zotti, (3) Anna Parks, (4) Adaora Achufusi, (5) Bessie Nolan, (6) Karlyn Gehring, (7) Julia Shimada, and (8) Su Yang.
VARSITY CHINELLE CROSS COUNTRY PIN Athletes who have earned 2 or more Varsity letters
(1) Preston Buehrer 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (2) Jonathan Kittaka 2005, 2006, 2007 (3) Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss 2006, 2007 (4) Jiasong Yang 2006, 2007 (5) Harold Jaffe 2006, 2007 (6) Rachel Kittaka 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (7) Ani Zotti 2005, 2006, 2007 (8) Anna Parks 2005, 2006 (9) Lena Guerriero 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (10) Julia Shimada 2005, 2006, 2007, and (11) Carmen Abelson 2006, 2007.
2007 CAL RIPKEN JR. AWARD: Su Yang, Sam Olver, and Andrew Czyszczon
2007 SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Carmen Abelson and Harold Jaffe
2007 SENIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD: Rachel Kittaka, Julia Shimada, and Preston Buehrer
2007 ACADEMIC AWARD: Lena Guerriero and Simon Vecchioni
2007 OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN AWARD: Su Yang, Wesley Laytham and Charlie Mesimore
2007 MOST IMPROVED AWARD: Adaora Achufusi and Cooper Eben
2007 MUSTANG AWARD: Ani Zotti and Anna Parks, Jiasong Yang and Simon Vecchioni
2007 MVP: Rachel Kittaka, Jonathan Kittaka, and Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss
2008 Team Captains: Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Jonathan Kittaka, Simon Vecchioni, Ani Zotti, Anna Parks, and Carmen Abelson
After every athlete had been called up to the podium to receive their awards, the Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony commenced. In 1903, University of Chicago Track Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, among other things, invented numbers on uniforms, and the Varsity letter, and the first Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony took place at the International House in Chicago. For over a 100 years, the traditions from the first Varsity letter ceremony have been followed. In 2004, Jon Gordon came from the University of Chicago Track & Field program to take over the Northside Cross Country program, and brought with him the traditions of Amos Alonzo Stagg and the Varsity letter blanket ceremony to Northside College Prep.
The 2008 Team Captains held up the blanket of each Senior athlete who earned a Varsity letter during their high school Cross Country career, and displayed the blanket to the crowd before it was placed on each athlete. The Varsity blankets were custom made, and each one had the athlete's name, Cross Country, and Northside College Prep, embrodied on it, along with a Varsity letter "N", and a Silver Star for each year the athlete earned a Varsity letter in Cross Country, and a Gold Star for each year the athlete was a Team Captain for the Northside Cross Country Team. The Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony was one of the highlights of the Northside Cross Country banquet. It is the highest honor a Senior athlete on the Cross Country Team can be given at the Banquet. The Northside Cross Country Team is currently the only sport at Northside College Prep that awards Varsity letter blankets. To earn a Varsity letter in Cross Country, a Northside athlete must finish among the Top 7 athletes on the Team in a Varsity Race (in Wisconsin Top 8), or run a minimum of 500 Miles in the summer for an automatic Varsity letter, or be a Senior Captain for an automatic Varsity letter.
VARSITY SENIOR BLANKET Senior Athletes who have earned 1 or more Varsity letters
The blankets were embroidered with each Athlete’s Name, Northside College Prep Cross Country, a Varsity letter “N”, along with a Silver Star for each Varsity letter earned in Cross Country during their Athletic Career, and a Gold Star for each year as Team Captain
MEN (1) Preston Buehrer 4 Silver, 2 Gold, (2) Harold Jaffe 2 Silver, (3) Santino Merino 1 Silver (2007), (4) James Casper-Shipp 1 Silver (2006), and (5) Brad Eben 1 Silver (2006).
WOMEN (1) Rachel Kittaka 4 Silver, 2 Gold, (2) Julia Shimada 3 Silver, 2 Gold, and (3) Lena Guerriero 4 Silver.
At the conclusion of the banquet, the 2007 Team Captains awarded the Northside Coaching staff with "IT" Award t-shirts, and gift certificates. A special thanks to the Northside Cross Country Team on behalf of the coaching staff for the "IT" Award t-shirts, gift certicates, and for an AWESOME season.
-Coach Jon Gordon, Coach Chad Ware, and Coach Jose Nebrida
On Saturday, November 24, 2007, over 2,000 athletes from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Minnestoa, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the 2007 Midwest Footlocker Regional Cross Country Championships. For the past 29 years, Olympians, National Champions, and future stars of the sport have toed the line at the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships to determine the Team to represent the Midwest at the High School Cross Country National Championships. The Top 10 Athletes in the Footlocker Midwest Regional seeded race advance to the National Footlocker Cross Country Championships in San Diego, California, on December 8, 2007.
Indiana Class 5A Individual State Champion Senior Michael Fout won the 2007 Midwest Footlocker 5K (3.1 Miles) Championships with an outstanding time of 14:55 in 30 degree weather on the toughest course in the Midwest! In 2006, Fout qualified as the only individual qualifer from his Team for the State Championships, but was not able to compete because of an injury. He spent the off-season training with his teammates, dedicated to the goal of getting the entire Team to the State Championships. In 2007, he not only qualified for the Indiana State Championships, but led his Team to second overall in the Class 5A Indiana Cross Country State Championships!, and he captured the individual State title as well. On Saturday, November 24, 2007, in his first appearance in the Midwest Footlocker seeded race, Michael Fout won it, and will be representing the Midwest at the Footlocker High School National Cross Country Championships in San Diego, California, on December 8, 2007.
Illinois Class 3A State Champion Christopher Derrick placed second overall at the 2007 Midwest Footlocker 5k (3.1 Miles) Championships to qualify for Nationals with an outstanding time of 15:03! In addition to running for the Midwest Team at Footlocker Nationals, Christopher Derrick and his Naperville Neuqua Valley high school teammates will represent Illinois at Nike Team Nationals on Saturday, December 1, 2007 in Portland, Oregon. "Our success this year was based on several guys buying into training year-round. In the past, we always had guys put in good summers, but this group also worked hard during the winter. Chris Derrick showed the way" -Paul Vandersteen, Head Coach, Neuqua Valley High School.
Illinois Class 3A All-State runner Kevin Havel will also represent the Midwest Team at Footlocker Cross Country National Championships. Havel placed fifth overall in the 2007 Midwest Footlocker 5k (3.1 Miles) Championships seeded race to qualify for Nationals with an outstanding time of 15:16!
For the past three weeks, Northside Freshman Charlie Mesimore, Freshman Wesley Laytham, and Sophomore Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss and 255 additional runners from Illinois trained on their own, and on Saturday, November 24, 2007 traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin at dawn to help Team Illinois against Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska in the battle for the Midwest Regional title. Team ILLINOIS placed 3rd overall in the Midwest!!! Colorado won the meet with a score of 45 points. Indiana came in second with a score of 70 points. Illinois came in third with a score of 79 points, and posted victories over Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska.
Charlie Mesimore and Wesley Laytham were the first Freshman athletes from Northside to ever compete in the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss was the second Sophomore athlete from Northside to ever compete in the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships. None of the Girls from Northside entered the meet.
In the Sophomore-Freshman race, the Top 7 Freshman athletes and Top 7 Sophomore athletes from each state were recognized as scoring members from their respective State.
For TEAM ILLINOIS, the following Athletes were recognized as the TOP 7 FRESHMAN in Illinois at the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships. (1) Sleepy Hollow's Anthony Manfrin placed 12th overall and was the fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 16:55. (2) Belvidere Paul Zeman placed 24th overall and was the second fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 17:08. (3) Elmhurst's Ron Hedman placed 55th overall and was the third fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 17:41. (4) Elmhurst's Tom Hedman placed 90th overall and was the fourth fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 18:05. (5) CHICAGO'S CHARLIE MESIMORE placed 101st overall in the Midwest and was the fifth fastest Freshman from Illinois to complete the scoring for Illinois with a 5K PR of 18:08. Mesimore dropped one second from the 2007 Rebel Invitational (9/1) for a 5K PR of 18:08. (6) Western Spring's Samuel Telfer placed 106th overall and was the sixth fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 18:12. (7) Metamora's Kevin Kamm placed 109th overall and was the seventh fastest Freshman from Illinois with a time of 18:14. CHICAGO'S WESLEY LAYTHAM placed 178th overall in the Midwest and was the 19th fastest Freshman from Illinois with a 5K PR of 19:33. Wesley Laytham dropped 30 seconds from the 2007 Rebel Invitational (9/1) on the SAME course for a 5K PR of 19:33. Charlie Mesimore and Wesley Laytham gained valuable experience by competing as Freshman in the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships, which will be priceless in future Footlocker appearances.
For TEAM ILLINOIS, the following athletes were recognized as the TOP 7 SOPHOMORES in Illinois at the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships. (1) Naperville's Aaron Beattie placed third overall and was the fastest Sophomore from Illinois with an outstanding time of 16:30. Aaron Beattie was also a key member of the 2007 Illinois Cross Country State Championship Team, Neuqua Valley High School, and will be competing at Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, December 1, 2007. (2) CHICAGO'S Kulayifi Haji placed 14th overall and was the second fastest Sophomore from Illinois with an outstanding time of 16:59. (3) Orland Park's Kyle Meyer placed 35th overall and was the third fastest Sophomore from Illinois with an outstanding time of 17:21. (4) Burr Ridge's Martin Grady placed 41st overall and was the fourth fastest Sophomore from Illinois with an outstanding time of 17:28. (5) CHICAGO'S CUITLAHUAC PINEDA YOUNISS placed 68th overall in the Midwest and was the fifth fastest Sophomore from Illinois to complete the scoring for Illinois with a 5K PR of 17:50. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss dropped two seconds from the 2007 Rebel Invitational (9/1) for a 5K PR of 17:50. (6) Frankfort's Matt Niendork placed 72nd overall and was the sixth fastest Sophomore from Illinois with a time of 17:52. (7) Wheaton's Nick Casa placed 75th overall and was the seventh fastest Sophomore from Illinois with a time of 17:53. Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss gained valuable experience by competing as a Sophomore in the Midwest Footlocker Cross Country Championships, which will be priceless in future Footlocker appearances.
The 2007 Footlocker High School Cross Country National Championships takes place on Saturday, December 8, 2007 in San Diego, California, and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
The IHSA has officially banned the use of watches by athletes at Cross Country meets, effective the 2008 Cross Country season. The decision is based on the rationale that watch technology has become so advanced that it could create an unfair advantage (i.e. heart rate monitors). Wearing a watch during a Cross Country race in 2008, will be treated as a violation of the no Jewelry rule, and the athlete will be disqualified.
In realty, athletes actually increase their race time every time they turn their heads to look at a watch during a race. As a result of the new rule, athletes willl actually run faster times in 2008.
On Saturday, December 1, 2007, the best high school Cross Country Teams from every Region in the United States gathered in Portland, Oregon for the Nike Team National Championships. Naperville Neuqua Valley Senior Chris Derrick won the individual title with an outstanding 5K time of 15:39.8. Colby Lowe (Carroll, Texas) finished in second with an outstanding time of 15:42.8. Ben Johnson (Albuquerque, NM) finished in third with an outstanding time of 16:20. Naperville Neuqua Valley James Riddle placed sixth overall with an outstanding time of 16:26, and held off a surging Los Alamos Team in the final 200m of the race. Los Alamos placed their top four runners within 7 seconds of each other! Neuqua Valley High School edged Los Alamos 125-127 to win the National Title. It was the second time in the last four years (York 2004), that a high school from Illinois won the National title.
The National High School Women Cross Country Championships was not as close. Fayetteville-Manlius High School of Manlius, New York won the title for the second consecutive year, with an 83-171 victory over Saugus High School of Newhall, California. Alabama High School Junior Madeline Morgan shocked the field with a 18:54.5 5K victory over pre-race favorite Katie Flood (Des Moines, Iowa). Flood ran an outstanding time of 19:04.3.
Footlocker Individual High School National Championships takes place next Saturday (December 8, 2008) in San Diego, California. Neuqua Valley High School Senior Chris Derrick is one of the favorites to win the Footlocker National Championships.
Northside Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida recently completed his 159th Marathon in Philadelphia, and was greeted by two-time Olympian Todd Williams. In 2006, Todd Williams flew from Jacksonville, Florida to Chicago, Illinois to visit the Northside Mustangs Men and Women Cross Country Teams at practice, and speak at a Team Pasta Party at Park Place Towers, the night before the 2006 City Championships. Todd Williams holds the American record in the 15K, and has a 5K PR of 13:19.
On December 14, 2007, Northside Assistant Coach Chad Ware traveled to Jacksonville, Florida in preparation for the 25th Annual Jacksonville Marathon. Jacksonville, Florida is the largest City in area in the continental United States. Over 2,500 athletes competed in the Jacksonville Marathon, with competitors from as far away as Kenya, and England. The course stretches from Bolles High School (former High School of Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones), down San Jose Boulevard, through parts of Mandarin along the St. Johns River and back to Bolles. The Marathon course finishes on the Track in Bolles Stadium.
As a result of the Florida sun, and the humid conditions, the Jacksonville Marathon starts at dawn. On Sunday, December 16, 2007, Northside Assistant Coach Chad Ware was on the start line with over 2,500 athletes at 7 am for the start of the 25th Annual Jacksonville Marathon. The race came right down to the final mile. Chad Ware ran toe to toe with Kenyan Sammy Nyamongo through 22 miles, with several lead changes throughout the race. Nyamongo then took the lead at mile 23, but Chad Ware chased him down in the final mile, and came within 7 seconds of first place, with a personal best time of 2:29:09! Chad Ware dropped over 5 minutes off his personal best time, and was awarded prize money for placing 2nd overall in the Jacksonville Marathon.
The Northside College Prep Track & Field Team will be having a mandatory Team Information Meeting on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM in the Northside Cafereria. Cross Country Athletes that participated in both Cross Country and Track in 2007 improved hundred times more than athletes that competed only in Cross Country. As a result, the Northside College Prep Cross Country Coaching staff highly recommends that all members of the Northside College Prep Cross Country Team join the 2008 Northside College Prep Track & Field Team.
The 2008 Northside College Prep Track & Field Team will be the largest athletic Team ever in the history of Northside College Prep, and although Northside only has an enrollment of 1,100 students, the Northside coaching staff expects to have one of the largest Track Team rosters in the State, including schools with enrollments of 4,000 or more.
After a worldwide search has been completed, Northside College Prep will introduce the finest coaching staff ever assembled, including coaches with international coaching experience in Japan and France, and collegiate coaching experience as well, at the Team information Meeting on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM in the Northside Cafeteria.
More importantly, at the Team Information meeting, exciting plans will be disclosed that will make your Track & Field experience more FUN, including a new travel schedule, overnight trips, Team Pasta Partys, Team Tailgate Partys, and more.
A Northside Track & Field Coaching staff/Team Captains dinner will take place at a local restaurant following the Team meeting at 5:00 pm on Friday, January 11, 2008. The following morning, American Record holder ALAN WEBB will be addressing the entire Northside College Prep Coaching Staff before the start of the 2008 season.
The Northside Men and Women Track & Field Team will be seeking their first State Title in 2008! If you want to be a part of it, come join us at our first TEAM meeting on Friday, January 11, 2008, at 3:27 pm in the Main Cafeterida. If you can't make the meeting for any reason, contact Head Coach Jon Gordon at JonGordon9@aol.com. Official practice will start on Monday, January 14, 2008, from 3:45 pm - 6:00 pm. Athletes in Basketball, Wrestling, and Swimming will join us after their respective seasons have ended.
For the Official website of the Northside College Prep Track and Field Team: www.MUSTANGSTF.com
