By Michael Newman

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While more than 180 schools make the trip to Detweiller Park to test themselves on the state meet course, there are still some great meets that will take place across the state. Here is a look at some of the action that will take place on Saturday morning.

You can read more about Peoria’s First to the Finish Invitational in this preview.

Harvey Braus Lake Park Invitational @ Lake Park East Campus

If you can’t make it to Peoria, this is the meet to go to. Some great individual talent and teams will be on the East Campus course ready to have a fast run. The Girls race displays a good race between Glenbard West’s Lindsey Payne and Prospect’s Brooke Wilson. Both runners ran great last week. Payne ran the fastest time in the nation when she crossed the line in 16:40 last week at Hinsdale. Wilson also turned in a fast time running a good 17:27 on the tight turns at Fenton. But will be challenging each other to run fast on Saturday. The course record of 16:27.7 was set by Lake Park’s Kaylee Flanagan in 2012. That could fall if the conditions are just right. Audrey Ernst (St. Charles North HS) and Meagan Biddle (Hoffman Estates HS) will also be in the front pack.

3A #3 Glenbard West is the big favorite in the Girls race behind the front running of Payne and their pack. #13 Schaumburg, #20 Hoffman Estates, #22 Prospect, and #24 St. Charles East will be among the teams chasing the Hilltoppers. Keep an eye on Maine South who could also challenge for a top three spot.

The Boys individual race will be just as good. Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest) opened his season last week at Fenton running one of the fastest times ever (14:52) on that fabled course. This will be the first race for Keagan Smith (Huntley HS) this season. Smith finished ninth at state a year ago. It should be a fun race to watch with a winning time under 15 minutes guaranteed.

3A #7 Oak Park-River Forest and #10 Huntley will be the favorites in the race. The thing to watch is how many runners Huntley will have before Oak Park #2 runner Kimanti Johnson. This is Huntley’s first race. We will see what kind of split they can produce. Oak Park had a tight pack behind Loud last week. That could also be a difference maker in this meet. #15 Jones College Prep, #16 Hoffman Estates, and #25 St. Charles East will challenge for third.

Joliet Central Steelman Invitational @ Channahon Park

#12 Neuqua Valley, #16 Oswego, Joliet West, and Fenwick will be the top teams in the Girls race. Oswego will be without one of their front runners Kayla Wooten who fell at the beginning of the race last week in St. Charles and is still suffering concussion symptoms.

The Boys team race has #14 Plainfield South leading the way. 2A #13 Lincoln-Way West, #16 Fenwick along with Joliet Central and Oswego could challenge the Cougars in this race.

Wauconda Invitational @ Lakewood Forest Preserve

Crystal Lake Central could be the key team in both the Girls and Boys race. The 2A #5 Girls team should be the favorite but will be challenged by an up and coming 3A #21 Glenbrook South team. Woodstock Marian and Lane Tech should challenge for the next spots.

The 2A #6 Boys team, led by Cole Barkocy, will be the big favorite in the Boys race. Warren Township, led by Dustin Macuiba, will be the team chasing the Tigers. Crystal Lake South and Glenbrook South also have strong squads that could walk away from Lakewood with the team championship.

Lee Halberg Invitational @ Lincoln Park, Springfield

2A #1 Mahomet-Seymour will be the big favorite in this meet. #5 Springfield will be without Heath Warren again as he will be on a college visit. Warren will be back with the team next week in Peoria. #12 Chatham-Glenwood is the up and coming team that could go after the Bulldogs. Taylorville could be the sleeper in this meet capable of placing in the top three. 1A #6 Monticello will also be among the teams challenging for the top three. Mahomet’s Alex Keeble should be the front runner challenged by Glenwood’s Landon Skelly and Taylorville’s Lawrence Curtin for the win.

2A #14 Chatham-Glenwood, #18 Mahomet-Seymour, 1A #7 Monticello, and Springfield will be among the top teams in the Girls race. Mahomet’s Lauren Whitehouse should be the favorite in this race.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda Invitational

This could be the best 1A meet in the state this weekend. Three teams in the 1A top 25 will be in the Boys race led by top ranked Tolono Unity. #3 St. Joseph Ogden and host #14 Paxton-Buckley-Loda are the other ranked teams. Two time state champ Jon Davis is the big favorite in this race.

Top ranked and defending state champion St. Joseph-Ogden will be challenged by #6 Tolono Unity for the Girls team championship. #11 Clifton Central and #18 St. Thomas More are other ranked teams in the field. Unity’s Madison Renfroe and St. Joseph-Ogden’s Faith Houston should be the front runners in this race.

PORTA Invitational at Petersburg

Three 1A top ten teams in the Girls race headline this meet on PORTA’s 2.9 course. Host #2 PORTA has the fire power up front led by Adrienne and Maria Brauer along with Anna Tambroski. #5 Liberty is led by freshman Kathryn Robbins who could challenge the Brauer sisters in this race. #8 Litchfield is sneaky good with a good pack that could challenge for the win. #20 Illini West has Carly Garnett and Mariah Brodie that could also challenge up front. #16 Liberty is the lone ranked team in the Boys race and should be the favorite.

Shelbyville Trail Invitational

1A #16 St. Anthony and #18 Shelbyville are the favorites in the Girls team race. Anna Sophia Keller is the big favorite. The question will be how big of a margin of victory will Keller have? #2 Shelbyville should win easily in the Boys race. Fairfield could be the next team in the standings.

Princeton Invitational

1A #13 Rock Falls, #15 Sterling Newman Catholic, and #23 Deer Creek-Mackinaw along with LaSalle Peru will be the teams to watch in the Boys race. Brayden Hamblen of Rock Falls will be challenged by teammate Seth Williams in the individual race. La-Salle Peru should be the favorite in the Girls race chased by Morris and 1A #24 Deer Creek Mackinaw. Rachel Hickey (LaSalle-Peru) will be challenged by Mya Shannon (Morris HS) in the individual race.