Weekend Outlook

Someone pointed out that it has been raining ever since the Red Sox were eliminated from the Playoffs. Coincidence?

Forecasters are predicting more rain to start the weekend, but that only means more interesting cross-country. The big event on Saturday is the Brown Invitational, held in Goddard State Park in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The course starts on a golf course, runs for about a half mile before entering a fairly narrow trail through a wooded area that borders Narragansett Bay. Runners proceed around a big loop and then come back the same way they started out, finishing on the golf course. In dry conditions, the course is considered very fast. (Last year's winning time was 15:00). It won't be dry this year! Heavy rains will lead to wide puddles all along the trail, slowing it down considerably, and making it treacherous. Newton North boys are sending a team, but they will be facing top-notch competition in the Championship race, including Brockton, Brookline, and Chelmsford from Mass., and several ranked teams, including Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) from New Jersey, and Bishop Hendricken from RI.

Also on Saturday, Franklin Park hosts the Catholic Memorial Invitational, favored by those teams that don't want to travel out of state to get a good competitive race. It is rumored that Xaverian will be running at the CMI event.

On Sunday, there is an open 5K "development" race at Frankln Park. Newton North assistant coaches are sometimes known to run such open events.

On the national scene, there is a big meet in Arkansas this weekend -- the Chili Pepper Invitational -- with races for both HS and collegiate runners. Newton North alum Chris Barnicle will be running his first 10K for Arkansas.