WHEELING — The Dick Dei Track Classic has seen it all.

There have been years where it realized much success as well as a few years when numbers were a little down. However, one thing is for sure: the annual event has been a staple of Ohio Valley track & field.

“It has been. When we added the girls division in 2013, things started to climb again,” Sean Dei, who is the son of Dick Dei, said. “But I think that took a couple of years to gain traction. I think it was known that the Dick Dei Track Classic was boys only and Coach (Carl) Bowman and I really made sure that it was highlighted on our invites that this was boys and girls. Now the numbers are on the way up and we are attracting teams that we never thought we would get. But also we’re tapping into new areas.”

It’s true. Not only are some of the top teams from West Virginia making the trip to Wheeling Park High School on Saturday for the 42nd annual event, but also many championship-caliber schools from Ohio.

Dei said three teams from the Cincinnati area have committed, which is the first time they’ve been able to attract teams from around the Queen City.

The field events will begin at 9:30 a.m. while the running events are set for 10 a.m. with the boys 110 high hurdles.

The schools that are set to compete for both boys and girls are Bellaire St. John, Brooke, Canon-McMillian, Claymont, Cleveland Heights, Dayton Meadowdale, Dayton Ponitz, Hedgesville, Indian Hill, John Marshall, Magnolia, Martins Ferry, Olentangy Liberty, Parkersburg South, Ripley, Shadyside, Spring Mills, Steubenville, Trotwood Madison, Uniontown Lake, Warren Harding, Wheeling Central, Wheeling Park and Youngstown East.

Cincinnati Taft, Huntington and St. Joseph’s Academy will also compete on the girls’ side while Cleveland Glenville, Dayton Dunbar, River and Weir are the other boys schools in the field.

“I think a lot of it was because we had a lot of great coaches that have come here year in and year out that also go out and spread the word,” Sean Dei said about competitive field. “But also, it’s reflective of the leadership of the Ohio County Schools system, Wheeling Park High School and Dwaine Rodgers, the athletics director. Every one of us is onboard and we built this meet back up. It’s good for the young men and ladies to compete against out-of-town talent, to get a gauge where they are and where they need to go to get ready for May and June.

“A lot of schools will ask, ‘Is Dunbar coming or Heights coming?’ Or things like that because obviously talent attracts talent and that’s what’s going to drive the competition. They want to run against them and get better. That’s what makes this great.”

Both reigning champions will return for 2019. On the boys’ side, Dayton Dunbar secured the 2018 title while the Wheeling Park girls claimed victory.

The Wolverines won claimed the top spot of the 19-team field last year claiming 104 points, 47.5 points better than runner-up Spring Mills. Wheeling Park claimed third with 43 points.

On the girls’ side, the Patriots hoisted the hardware with 89 points edging out Morgantown (85). Wheeling Central claimed third with 64 points.

“(Wheeling Park boys and girls coach) Bryan (Arbes) is very anxious to get on the track Saturday,” Sean Dei said. “He is also very excited about the spread of teams we were able to get. He helps too, obviously with me living Florida. Bryan is also the eyes and ears and helps spread the word. I think we have a good product to present and this would not be possible without the support of the high school and our corporate sponsors. They make this thing go. The combination of support of the school system, our corporate champions and our meet volunteers, really make this meet a huge success.”

“Our DDTC crew has put together the strongest field of teams possible to create a very competitive meet for everybody to enjoy. I take pride in being able to lead the Patriots in honoring the finest coaches the Ohio Valley and the state of West Virginia has had,” Arbes added. “Our athletes have been putting in the work to uphold their reputation and look forward to competing on Saturday.”

During the intermission, the Honorary Referee Ceremony will be held where Tom Lash will be recognized.

Lash was a coach and a teacher in the county before him and his wife moved out to California for some 15 years. After retiring from education, he moved back to the Ohio Valleyand has been back for close to 15 years now.

Prior to moving out West, he was very involved with track and with helping Dick Dei. He not only was a help with the Dick Dei meet, but all that were held at the school. At one time Wheeling Park was one of the few eight lane tracks in the Ohio Valley. The school hosted the 3A/4A OVAC meet, the Region I meet as well as many other high school and middle school meets.

“There was probably 20 meets up there a year for high school and middle school at the time,” Sean Dei said. “Coach Lash has been supporter of the meet. He’s one of those volunteers that would go up there at that second Saturday in April for the kids.”

The sponsors of the meet are Pepsi, WesBanco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sheetz, The Lewis Financial Group, Jividen Law, Otis Eastern, United Mine Workers of America, Wheeling – Clarksburg Mack, WV Oil & Natural Gas Association and AT&T.