Pierre's comments: The major players showed some of their cards this early in the season, in fact seven of the top ten teams for this week competed at Belleville West. Weather + great competiton brings out the best in athletes and teams. The winner of the week are the Tigers of Edwardsville, the preseason #1 team is on top after battling East St Louis down the wire for the Belleville West team title. Who counted the defending state champion Flyers out? It appears to be a total reload for the Eastside, according to the coaches and athletes a few more pieces walking the hallways will make the Flyers very dangerous. Homewood-Flossmoor showed great sprint and relay performances, most impressive was their 4x2 WITHOUT their sub 22 second sprinters. Any team that has their name in the top five this season has a shot at coming home from Charleston with one extra passenger, do not sleep on any team! Plainfield North has the state leader in two events who could provideh quality state points. Batavia continues to flash their depth by getting points from multiple event groups... and we did not forget about the previous pole holders Neuqua Valley and Lyons Twp. They ventured out to California to duel indirectly in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational. The results appeared to be mix depending on how you look at things. Neuqua Valley coaches indicated the trip was a learning experience. The Wildcats may have lost a key championship for awhile. Relay man and sprinter Jaquere Williams pulled up lame on his 4x4 carry. He suffered an apparent leg injury and the full details to date are still not known. Lyons had two great performances from the distance arena. The 4x800 relay, Danny Kilrea and Vince Zona produced three IL #1's and that will loom large down the road in championship time. On the other hand track and field is composed mostly of speed events and the Lions did not do well in those events (4x2, 4x4). That will need to be improved.