BUTLER TWP The more Rick Schontz and Rod Harris looked at it, the more it made sense.

The Butler Boys Track and Field Invitational, now into its 45th year, has been a Friday staple in April for more than two generations.

The Butler Girls Track and Field Invitation, now in its eighth year and the top girls meet in the area, used to take place the Saturday after the boys invitational.

This season, both meets will be run together, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium.

It's a decision whose time has come, said to Schontz and Harris.

"Rod and I sat down and talked about it," said Schontz, the Tornado boys coach. "We didn't have the number of teams we used to and the meet has been finishing up early before 9 p.m.

"We made the decision that if we got done early, teams like (Erie) McDowell wouldn't have to go home late Friday, then turn around and bring the girls team down Saturday morning," he added.

"The boys teams have dropped over the years because other schools are hosting invitationals the same night," Harris said. "Greater Latrobe has one on Friday, New Castle has one and California (Pa.) University is hosting one. They use it as a recruiting tool, so some will go to those meets.

"We asked coaches if they would be interested in combining it into one meet, and they said they would," he added.

Whether for convenience of attending another invitational or a cost-cutting move to attend a closer meet, many of the usual favorites will still be coming to Butler.

Baldwin, North Hills, Seneca Valley, Knoch, Shaler, McDowell, Erie Cathedral Prep and Punxsutawney are just a handful of teams expected to be in attendance, as well as the Mount Lebanon and Central Catholic boys squads.

In all, about 29 teams will be competing in the boys event while the girls event is up to 24 teams.

"There's a lot of good competition," said Harris. "There's also a lot of teams that might just bring a couple of kids. Some schools might not have great numbers, but will be great competition."

This year, the fully automatic timing system will be used, giving the finishers a precise reading of their times, but a lot of effort goes into making the system work.

"We have three individuals from the school district training to run it," said Schontz. "We'll have a dry run at our junior high invite and, hopefully, we'll get any kinks worked out."