The state track and field competition will be the site of a Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony May 25.
Perry Ellis, Marcel Carter, and Oscar Birt are scheduled to be inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. May 25 in Wichita’s Cessna Stadium.
Ellis, Carter, and Birt were announced as hall of fame inductees in December 2018.
OSCAR BIRT, GIRARD – OFFICIAL
Since 1960, Oscar Birt has touched the lives of thousands of student-athletes as a registered track and field official. During this span of 57 years he started over 800 meets at all levels – regular season, league, regional, state and college – and with an average of 50 starts per meet, he fired his starter pistol well over 40,000 times. Via the Missouri Valley Officials Association, he acquired the coveted title of Master Starter. Throughout his career, Birt had one thing in mind and that was to do the best job he could for the student-athletes. When Birt was the starter, coaches knew their students were going to get a fair shake. His knowledge of track and field was only surpassed by his love for the sport. He never asked an athlete if they won an event. Rather, he asked them what their time, distance or height was that day.
MARCEL CARTER, GAINESVILLE, FL – STUDENT (Shawnee Heights HS, 1985-1989)
Marcel Carter was undeniably one of the best high school sprinters in Kansas. He rewrote the record books nearly every time he stepped on the track for a race, becoming the only male at the Kansas State Track Meet to win the 200m four straight years (1986-1989). In addition, he added two gold medals in both the 100m and 400m, plus the 4×100 m relay. He led the T-Birds to a 5A team championship in 1989, and 29 years later still holds school records in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Following high school he attended the SEC sprint power-house University of Florida, receiving numerous All-American and Conference honors. He became one of the top sprinters in Florida history and in 2000 he competed in the U.S. Olympic trials.
PERRY ELLIS, WICHITA – STUDENT (Wichita Heights HS, 2008-2012)
As a Wichita Heights High School freshman, Perry Ellis set four goals for his high school career: 1. class valedictorian; 2. win four state basketball titles; 3. earn a DI college scholarship; 4. be named a McDonald’s All-American. At the end of his senior year, he checked off all four goals. Ellis was a tremendous athlete and an even better person. Additional athletic accomplishments include four-year starter, four GWAL titles, Heights career scoring leader (2,231 pts.), Heights career rebounding leader (984), GWAL second-leading scorer, four-time Gatorade Player of the Year, McDonalds 1st Team All-American. This student-athlete had a 4.0 GPA and was recognized as a Kansas Honor Scholar and Governor’s Scholar. Ellis had a stellar career at the University of Kansas and was the 2016 Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year.