Simeon claims top spot at Noll invite

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:48PM

For two of the track and field athletes at the Bishop Noll indoor meet, their paths to their first titles at this event were totally different.

"I thought this was just a great meet," Warriors' coach Chris Nicolini. "We had teams from the city and the country and there was just such great sportsmanship here from all teams involved."

Chicago Simeon (132 points) claimed the top prize with Griffith (78) and Bishop Noll rounding out the top three in team competition.

But it was a freshman and a junior that opened some eyes.

Warriors' freshman long distance runner Sal Cordova in his first meet snagged both the one (5:07.66) and two mile (11:42.88) races finishing just in front of one-miler North Newton's Josh Hooker (5:12.32) and Washington's Misat Martinez (11:46.19).

"With any luck we will have him for three more years and just get better and better," Nicolini added in reference to Cordova. "It's just an awesome feeling," said Cordova. "You would kind of expect the older kids would come in and win because they are bigger and better, but I'm expecting a big season."

While Cordova was making his presence felt for the first time at the Warriors' indoor meet, the Panthers' Maciek Szczepkewski finally was able to accomplish his goal of not just winning the shot put but just getting a legal toss in.

Last year at the same event, Szczepkewski was disqualified on every toss due to what he describes as bad mechanics.

"This is just incredible to win this and get a trophy," said Szczepkewski as he was handed his first place trophy from his coach. "I wasn't able to even get a throw in last year, but I really have worked on my mechanics," added Szczepkewski. "This is a big win for me, but I really want to make it to state this year, it's not a wish it's a must."

Simeon's Devante Elzy won the high jump (6-0) with the Panthers' Paris Davinport placing second (5-10), but also claimed the 60 high hurdles (9.426). Calumet's Ladero Mitchell took first in the 880 race, while Thea Bowman's Strickland was the only other region individual winner with a time of 6.641 60-yard dash.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.