Detweiller Park hosts the state’s biggest high school cross country meet on Saturday. Yes, the biggest. The 33rd Annual First to the Finish Invitational brings in hundreds of Illinois’ top teams and thousands of runners for an early season preview of the state finals, which have called the Peoria park home since 1970.
Detweiller is a popular multi-use destination for Peoria area residents who enjoy running/walking, soccer, volleyball, hiking, birding, and many other outdoor activities. Detweiller Drive, which runs through much of the park, features one of the finest, most diverse collections of oaks around.
The race schedule is 1A girls at 9 a.m., 1A boys at 9:40 a.m., Class 2A girls at 10:20 a.m., 2A boys at 11 a.m., girls open at 11:40 a.m., boys open at 12:20 p.m., girls Class 3A at 1 p.m. and boys 3A at 1:40 p.m. Many of the state’s top runners will be crossing the Detweiller finish line for the first time since the 2019 state meet.
It is a singular experience that, combined with the extraordinary quality of Illinois high school distance running, has made the IHSA state championships and Detweiller Park nationally famous.
But it is probable that no single performance in any Illinois sport is more iconic, more revered or more sacred than the Detweiller course record of 13:50.6. It has loomed over this event for almost half a century.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 fans are expected to churn through Detweiller this weekend for the six races that will determine the 2019 state champions in three classes of boys and girls competition. They’ll come by cars, SUVs and buses, filled with family and friends, cheerleaders and pep ensembles, young and old, college recruiters and running enthusiasts.
When Verzbicus took 4:30 to cover the first mile, many thought he had started too slow. But when he nailed the second mile in 4:40 to sail through the two-mile mark at 9:10, Virgin started preparing his public remarks on seeing the record fall. But suddenly, in the final quarter-mile, a light breeze kicked out of the south and directly into the runners’ faces. Verzbicus finished in 13:54. Frustrated, he said the course was “cursed.”
It was a perfect day, with early afternoon temperatures around 50 and not a hint of wind. It turned into a rollercoaster for Virgin and the crowd as Verzbicus mounted his assault.
Virgin passed the two-mile post in 9:16, then accelerated to a 4:35 final mile to cross the finish line 30 seconds ahead of second place. The crowd knew it had witnessed something special. But nobody could have imagined how special, partly because the first assault on Virgin’s mark would take place the very next season.
Before anyone had heard of Craig Virgin, and before the IHSA even contemplated moving the state meet from Savoy, cross country runners of all ages were aware of the “Long Green Line” at Elmhurst York.
LaCroix laid out the original 2.75-mile course at Detweiller Park, made the bid to bring the state meet there in 1970, and helped change it to 3.0 miles. In addition, he helped bring in the girls state meet and the two-class system - which now has evolved into a three-class system for both boys and girls.
Winnebago leads the state with 12 girls cross country state titles between 1989 and 2008, while Palatine (seven) and Naperville North (six) trail the Indians cross country program in that particular record category. Winnebago also holds the record for consecutive state titles with five between 2005 and 2009.
Although a petite 5-foot-1, Miroballi was a giant on any cross country course on which she set foot. Dana Miroballi on the cover of the 1988 IHSA state cross country meet program. “I started running cross country at MacArthur Junior High School the beginning of seventh grade,” Miroballi said.
Behind 2004 NFHS National High School Hall of Fame inductee Joe Newton, Elmhurst York has won a state-record 28 boys cross country state titles, along with 12 runner-up and five third-place finishes. Newton also led the Dukes to consecutive state titles streaks of six (1989 to 1994), five (1980 to 1984) and five again (2002 to 2006).
On the boys’ side, defending state champions are Monticello in Class 1A, Yorkville in Class 2A and Hinsdale Central in Class 3A.
The 86-year-old Newton has been at York since 1960, and his cross country program was featured in the feature-length documentary “The Long Green Line.”. Jorge Torres of Wheeling claimed a state-record three consecutive state titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Craig Virgin winning the 1972 IHSA state cross country meet. During the intervening 43 years, Virgin’s state-meet record time was seriously challenged only twice – when Chris Derrick of Naperville Neuqua Valley High School ran a 13:52 in 2007, and when Lukas Verzbicas of Sandburg Orland Park High School turned in a 13:54 in 2010.
Over 1200 Runners and 135,000 watts of power make Detweiller at Dark THE most unique XC events in the country!
Participants will receive an official Detweiller at Dark shirt, custom race bib, and virtual packet.
Top 3 Teams in each race receive a team trophy!
IE, a High School student who just graduated in May of 2019 can still participate in the High School Boys Race or can opt to run in the Open Race.