BUTLER TWP — With each passing year, competition for the Butler Track and Field Invitational grows more fierce.

Not just the actual meets, but for the teams themselves.

Despite other invitationals scheduled on the same evening, the Butler Boys Invitational, now in its 44th year, is still one of the bigger draws in Western Pennsylvania.

On Friday, Butler will be one of three invitationals in the region, as Greater Latrobe and New Castle also host meets.

The field events will begin at 3 p.m.; the track events at 3:30 p.m.

On the girls side, the seventh annual Butler Girls Track and Field Invitational will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. Hempfield will conduct one of its own the same day.

"The real competition is at our invitational," said Butler boys coach Rick Schontz. "We have competition from some great athletes and teams know that.

"This is a mid-season measuring stick for the better athletes,"Schontz added.

"They're pulling some of the smaller schools that we used to have so they have better competition for themselves," said Butler girls coach Rod Harris.

As of Wednesday, the boys meet will have 29 teams, but "we may pick up a couple more teams before Friday," said Schontz. "We look to finish in the low 30s.

"And the weather is supposed to be fantastic. We've gone from nice weather to showers and blustery conditions before,"Schontz added.

North Allegheny, one of Butler's top section rivals for both the boys and girls, will not be attendance, choosing to go to Latrobe Friday for the boys event and Hempfield Saturday in the girls meet.

Still, the Butler meets are flush with talented teams.

The boys meet will include host Butler, defending indoor and outdoor state champion Erie McDowell, Erie Cathedral Prep, Mt. Lebanon, Penn Hills, Seneca Valley, Shaler, Pine-Richland, North Hills, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin, Baldwin and Woodland Hills.

The number of squads might not be closer to the 40-plus teams like in past years, but the quality is still there.

"That's the big thing," said Schontz. "We've had a few more teams, but some have gone to the others. The level of competition is the best in the area this time of year."

On Saturday, Butler also will have a large contingent of squads flocking to Butler.

"We do have Norwin coming back," said Harris. "They've won back-to-back WPIALchampionships."

Baldwin, McDowell, Penn Hills, Shaler, Upper St. Clair and West Mifflin also will highlight the meet.

"We have 21 schools coming (Saturday) and we're maintaining a steady number, around 20 to 25 teams," said Harris.

"That's right where we need to be. There's good, steady competition and it runs quick," he added.