Runners better be near the front of the pack when the starting gun sounds at Saturday’s 17th annual Big Red Cross Country Invitational, or they could be caught in the pack.
A total of 1,321 runners representing 39 schools are entered in the invitational.
West Middlesex coach Bob Morris is the meet director. He says the invitational as one of the biggest athletic events held in Mercer County and Western Pennsylvania each year.
The West Middlesex boys and girls teams each won their races last year in the Red Division for larger enrollment schools. Adam Shrawder of West Middlesex was the individual winner in the boys race, and Bethany Walker of Ellwood City won the girls race.
West Middlesex already showed that it has two strong teams this season. The boys and girls team both finished first at last Saturday’s Hornet Harrier Invitational at Hickory.
In the White Division for smaller schools, North East’s Garrett Gray returns to defend his individual title and he will try to help the Grapepickers to another first place finish. Kacey Gibson of Neshannock was the individual girls winner, while Union City won the girls team title.
The first of eight races begins at 9 p.m., with each subsequent race starting about 5 minutes following the conclusion of the previous race.
Here is the order of races with the distance:
Middle school girls, 1.6 miles
Middle school boys, 1.6 miles
Varsity white girls, 3.1 miles
Varsity red girls, 3.1 miles
Varsity white boys, 3.1 miles
Junior varsity girls, 1.6 miles
Junior varsity boys, 1.6 miles

n The PTFCA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be contested at Penn State on March 1, two days before the PIAA allows teams to begin practicing for the outdoor season.
The McDowell boys won the 2007 championship, and then went on to win the PIAA Class AAAA outdoor championship at Shippensburg, as well.
PTFCA watches will be awarded to athletes who win events, and medals will go to athletes finishing second through eighth. In addition, award will be given to the top three teams.