In a city known for big high school athletic events, Saturday will be host to what is likely the largest single-day event ever when it comes to the number of athletes participating. The Bridgeport Recreation Complex will play host to the Third Annual Charles Pointe Indian Run Invitational cross country meet for its - and most certainly the city's - single biggest one-day participant event ever.

 

Just how big is the event, which features competition at both the high school and middle school level and more? According to Bridgeport High School Cross Country Coach, the number of athletes that have registered stands officially at 1,117 from 54 high schools and middle schools.

 

“That is substantially higher than last year’s total,” said Griffith. “Aside from the fantastic number of kids, we have a lot of great things going on at the meet as well.”

 

The “things” Griffith refers to actually begin today. This afternoon, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., teams participating will be in town if they want to inspect the course and run it. Teams will also be allowed to set up tents and interact with runners and coaches from other schools coming into town for the event.

 

The real action starts Saturday and starts early. The following is the schedule involving the WVSSAC high school and middle school:

 

SCHEDULE: 8 a.m. High School Boys AA-A; 8:45 a.m. High School Girls AA-A; 9:30 a.m. High School Boys AAA; 10:15 a.m. High School Girls AAA; 11 a.m. High School Awards; noon- 12:30 p.m. Tour Course MS; 12:30 p.m. Middle School Girls; 1 p.m. Middle School Boys; 1:30 p.m. Middle School Junior Varsity; and 2 p.m. Middle School Awards.

 

In Class AA-A high school, the teams competing include Bridgeport, Elkins, Winfield, Lewis County, Notre Dame, Frankfort, Gilmer County, East Fairmont, Weir, North Marion, Fairmont Senior, Philip Barbour, Robert C. Byrd, Trinity Christian, Clay-Battelle, Doddridge County, St. Marys, Braxton County, Nicholas County, South Harrison, Magnolia, Liberty, Oak Glen, and Lincoln.

 

The Class AAA field consists of Buckhannon-Upshur, Capital, Preston, University, and Riverside.

 

Middle school participants include Bridgeport, Suncrest, Braxton County, Philippi, East Fairmont, Robert L. Bland, Pleasants County, Washington Irving, Westwood, West Fairmont, Notre Dame, Doddridge County, Mountaineer (Monongalia County), South Preston, Fairmont Catholic, Elkins, Summersville, Central Preston, South (Monongalia County), South Harrison, Aurora, Gilmer County, Buckhannon-Upshur, Frankfort, and Taylor County.

 

The break in the middle of the high school and middle school portion of the competition is for the Open Cross Country 5K race that starts at 11: 15 a.m. The award ceremony for that event is at noon.

 

The race will be open to coaches, parents and the general public. Participants run the same course as the high school athletes.  An entry fee of $10 per runner will be charged if pre-registered. Race day registration will be $15. The race will be limited to the first 200 entries.  There will be no age grouping, and male and female athletes will run together. The top 10 male and top 10 female finishers will receive awards.  Runners in this event will add to the 1,117 number listed above.

 

“Lauren Starkey will be DJ’ing all day between award ceremonies on the (Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s) stage next to the athlete tent village, the FBI will be doing their free fingerprint identification program for the kids as part of the National Child Identification Program, and we will have 10 colleges represented by their cross country/track and field coaches to talk with the athletes and their families about their athletic programs, schools and camps in our College Coaches Corner,” said Griffith. 

 

Coaches and schools represented include Sarah Ray of Fairmont State University; Nick Bias of the University of Charleston; Caleb Brown of Marshall University; Jesse Skiles of West Virginia Wesleyan; Jason Pyles of Davis & Elkins; Jesse Weiner of Alderson-Broaddus University; Earl Graves of Alderson-Broaddus University; Ricky Moore of Wheeling Jesuit University; Mike Young of Salem International University; Patrick Stanton of Salem International University; Nicholas Spino of Glenville State College; Nate Edwards of Glenville State College; and Michael Guinn of Bethany College.

 

“The award presentations will be handled by West Virginia running legend Carl Hatfield and Genesis Partners’ Jamie Corton on the stage next to the athlete tent village.” 

 

According to the Bridgeport High School Track and Field/Cross Country Web site, on Saturday cars will be able to park at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex on a first come first serve basis.  Buses will drop teams at the complex and will then be parking off-site. 

 

Bus Shuttle Service will be available all day for those that park at Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary and Wayne Jamison Field.  Tickets will be sold as you board the bus and you will be dropped inside the complex at the top of the hill avoiding long ticket lines and climbing the complex hill. 

 

Tent City will be on the multipurpose field.  Restroom facilities and concessions will be available adjacent to the multipurpose field.  T-shirts will be available for sale on a first come first serve basis.  Spectators will be charged $5.

 

Editor's Note: Photos shown from last year's event by www.benqueenphotography.com.