The opening of the Boys 3A race signaled that cross country season is indeed underway (Steven Bugarin photo)
Peoria IL-
Saturday was a bag of mixed goods at historic Detweiller Park. The weather and competition was ripe for fast times and a good time for all. However, the course conditions had other ideas. The rain that preceded the 29th Annual running of the Peoria Invitational sponsored by First To The Finish had other ideas. There was pockets of mud that turned the running path into a dirty slick affair. Only one runner broke 15:00 on the day and just a single girl cleared 17:30. Detweiller is a speedway except when extreme conditions exist. The only other time in very recent times that were this slow was the 1994 state meet. Only two boy runners broke 15:00 in either class. East Peoria legend Tim Broe had the fastest time of the day. The course conditions that day was so deplorable because of all the rain splashed on Detweiller the entire week leading up to Saturday.
