The Silver Spring Track Club (SSTC) began in 1974 as a seven-week instructional program in track and field techniques. It was a summer activity sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, and initially coached by Mr. Al Bellman, coach of the John F. Kennedy High School track team

By 1978, Mr. Bellman could no longer continue as coach because of other commitments. Rather than dissolve the track team, the Montgomery County Department of Recreation approached Mr. Ronald Ray and Dr. Melvin Spann to continue the program. The program grew by leaps and bounds.

In 1981, the size of the team and the extended involvement in competition made it necessary for a Board of Directors to be elected and by-laws to be adopted to provide an organizational framework to operate, administrate and govern the Silver Spring Track Team. The charter members, Dr. Melvin Spann, Mr. Ronald Ray, Dr. Renty and Mrs. Gloria Franklin, Mr. Richard McCarthy, Mr. and Mrs. Colonel Armstrong set a course to accomplish this task. Mrs. Johnnie Mae Armstrong has continued to be actively involved with the Club over its entire life-span.

In August 1999, eleven of the twelve athletes who qualified to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics in Cleveland, Ohio medaled in their events. SSTC track-athletes have regularly participated in AAU Regional Qualifier meets; AAU Club Championship meets in Orlando, Florida, and in the AAU Junior Olympics

After almost three decades, the SSTC athletes continue to compete in local, regional and national meets. Our coaching staffs, who are also volunteers, some of whom were once SSTC athletes, have every reason to be proud of the young people whom they coach. The young athletes continue to live up to the Club motto, "WE WILL ACHIEVE ... WE WILL SURVIVE.”