It was almost certainly the largest amount of athletes ever gathered for one event and only the opening day at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex itself. And if Bridgeport High School cross country Coach Jon Griffith has his way, this year there will be no question about the biggest crowd and athlete participation event in the Rec Complex’s still young history.

 

Griffith is already marketing the Third Annual Charles Pointe Indian Run Invitational. Last year, roughly 50 high schools and middle schools combined to bring in just above 1,000 student-athletes to take part in the event. Those numbers, which are likely the most ever as far as athletes, also resulted in a huge crowd.

 

“It was a huge crowd. In terms of numbers, our dedication day for the Recreation Complex, which was also the opening day for Little League, is the only thing that could rival the total number of people we saw last year,” said Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton.

 

In just two years, the meet has already become one of the largest in the state. Griffith said it’s easily among the top five meets in the state and the goal is to get in the top two.

Currently, the Saint Mary’s Medical Center Cross Country Festival is the state’s largest regular season meet. There are 1,600 runners that compete in the event.

 

“To get the numbers, we’ll need more teams and that’s our goal. We’ll market this and we’ll also be working to find unique ways to get people interested,” said Griffith.

 

Apparently, it’s working. Although it’s still very early in the registration process is early, Griffith said the field is almost half the size of last year’s with a long way to go. As of Tuesday, there were 19 high school and four middle schools registered to be part of the event.

 

So what has Griffith been doing to change things up?

 

For starters, he’s posted a course video. This one, which was submitted to Connect-Bridgeport, can be seen below.

 

Griffith said this year’s meet will be divided into three divisions instead of two. There will be middle school, Class AA-A and Class AAA events.

 

The entertainment value is also being ramped up. There will be a separate stage set up this year for the awards presentations and there will be a deejay playing music at all times with the exception of awards presentations.

 

Perhaps the most unique of the new additions is the “College Coaches Corner.” The corner will be an area that will see college coaches have booths set up where they can meet with the athletes, parents and high school coaches and discuss programs, camps and even recruit. The recruiting is allowed only for upperclassmen at that time – juniors and seniors – per NCAA rules.

Nine colleges and universities have committed so far; some bringing coaches from their men’s and women’s programs. The coaches and schools they represent that have verbally committed to attend include Sean Cleary of West Virginia University, Nick Bias of the University of Charleston, Jesse Skiles of West Virginia Wesleyan, Jesse Weiner of Alderson-Broaddus, Ricky Moore of Wheeling Jesuit, Patrick Stanton of Salem International, Kaylyn Christopher of Fairmont State, Caleb Bowen of Marshall, Jason Pyles of Davis & Elkins, Earl Graves of A-B and Mike Young of SIU.

 

“We think those additions will draw more teams and draw more people,” said Griffith.

 

The meet will be held August 27. Parking at the Rec Complex will again be on a first come, first serve basis with everyone else being shuttled in from the parking lots at BHS, Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary and Wayne Jamison Field. School buses will drop off athletes at the complex and park off site.

 

Click HERE for the Web site to find out plenty of more information on the meet. The cost to attend is $5.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from last year's race by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.