Seniors defy age in show of competitive spirit

A senior citizen participated in the shot put event at the Capital City Senior games.
Photos by Ashia Glover

Participant of the 400- meter run makes his way to the finish line on Saturday at the Capital City Senior games.

Participant throws the discus as far as he can during the Capital City Senior games.

By Ashia Glover
Outlook writer

Hearts pounded and there were even a few sweaty palms as a group of runners lined up for the start of their event on the track at Godby High School.

 
They all had the same goal – start and make it to the finish line with an impressive time. These were not your average runners, though.

 
The field was made up of competitors age 50 and older. They came to strut their stuff by competing in the Capital City Senior Games.

 
They competed in events that included the discus, shot put, the 800-meter race, 400-meter run and 100-meter run. Some even participated in a variety of field events.

 
But not everyone was there to win a prize. Finishing was just good enough for some as proof that they are in good health.

 
Tim Street didn’t just show up because of the fact that he could still compete, but he also was there to celebrate his 56th birthday.

 
He competed in the 100-meter race and was quite impressed with his first-place performance for a gold medal.

 
“This is my second year and I felt pretty good,” he said. “Last year I went to the state championship and won second place.”

 
Like Street, all of the other top finishers will get berths to the state championship later this year.
So naturally, winning was the ultimate achievement for many of these seniors. Take Bruce Edwards, for example. He trailed the leader in the 400-meter race early on but had a strong enough kick to take home the medal.

 
It was no easy task, he said afterward.

 
“I had to stay focused and push all the way through,” Edwards said. “I’m 53 years old and fitness, health, staying in shape are what I strive for. Doing things like this is the norm for me so coming out to this event was something fun to do in order to maintain my health.”

 
The event always causes Street to flash back to what he had during a college career at FAMU.

 
“I’m here able to do something that I was able to do when I was younger,” he said. “It’s different. Now as a different purpose and as a new purpose I’m just trying to do better and tackle new things in the future.