West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission

  2875 Staunton Turnpike, Parkersburg, WV  26104-7219

Telephone 304-485-5494          E-Mail:  wvssac@wvssac.org

                                        Fax 304-428-5431                           Web Site:  www.wvssasc.org

 

NEWS RELEASE 

 

In 1914 Rocco
J. Gorman, coach at Charleston High School, invited 12 other schools 

 

to compete in the first state
high school track meet in West Virginia.  Little did he know 

 

that in 2014, the WVSSAC would
be celebrating the 100th state championship. The state 

 

meet was cancelled in 1917 as
a result of World War I.  The first state meet was held at

 

 Exhibition Park in Charleston.
 The meet has also been held at Watt Powell Park 

 

in Charleston along with Morgantown
at West Virginia University, and Huntington at 

 

Marshall University before
finding its present home at the University of Charleston 

 

Stadium at Laidley Field.

 

            In August Gary
Ray, Executive Director of the WVSSAC, formed a committee to 

 

commemorate the celebration  of
the 100th state championship.  The committee met

 

 monthly to plan the
activities which include the introduction of past recorder holders, 

 

special edition of the
souvenir program and a memorabilia display.  

 








Names of past
state record holders are scheduled to appear and assist in the 

 

presentation of championship
awards include: Tom Pridemore, former Ansted High 

 

School, WVU and Atlanta Falcon
defensive back; Kerry Marbury of Monongah and WVU; 

 

Cynthia Shelton, who excelled
in the sprint and hurdle events; Wilson Smith, Huntington 

 

High School record holder in
the 880 who later stared at Villanova; and St. Marys High 

 

School star Paul Reed who
established the record in the 440.  Others slated to appear 

 

include David Bowman, Frances
Daniel, Tom Reid, and Bob Reives.  There will be a sign in

 

table near the computer shack
for any yard or metric record holders, state championship 

 

coaches,  individual high
point performers and officials who have participated in the state 

 

track meet.

 

            The souvenir
program will feature 24 pages highlighting the 

 

accomplishments of teams,
coaches and athletes throughout the years.  Doug Carte, 

 

General Manager of the
University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field, will provide a 

 

room for memorabilia display
which will include a power point presentation featuring 

 

outstanding performances of
past championships.  

 








            Gary Ray,
Executive Director, said, “we are extremely pleased to be a part of this 

 

celebration.  Changes have
occurred throughout the years in our state track championship 

 

but as we celebrate the 100th
edition, we want to take the time to remember those 

 

individuals who dedicated
countless hours to preserving one of the oldest state 

 

championships in our country. 
A great foundation was established in 1914 and we have the 

 

opportunity to honor those who
have provided the stability for this meet to be so 

 

successful”.

 

            The WVSSAC State
Track Meet is schedule for May 23-24, 2014 at the University of 

 

Charleston Stadium at Laidley
Field.  It gets started with a special opening ceremony at 

 

2:00 pm on Friday May 23rd.