Residents qualify for national senior games

Residents from Thermopolis qualified for the National Senior Games during the 2018 Summer Wyoming Senior Olympics in Laramie Aug. 2-4. The national games will be in Albuquerque, N.M. in 2019, and the local qualifiers are T.J. and Lea Schoenewald, Gloria Simmons, and Glenn and Marion Bishop.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the top three placing participants at the conclusion of each event. During National Senior Games qualifying years - 2018, 2020, 2022, etc. - the top three Wyoming residents are also eligible for National Senior Games competition.

Lea took the silver in the 65-70 age group for the 5K walk/run. T.J. took the gold in the 60-65 age group for the 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle relay and 100-yard medley relay, and a bronze in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Simmons took the gold in the 75-80 age group for the Frisbee throw, the 400 fun walk, 25-yard freestyle and the 50-yard freestyle.

Glenn took the gold in the 80-85 age group for the 50-yard backstroke, the silver in the 50-yard freestyle, and the gold in the 800 racewalk. Marion took the gold in the 70-75 age group for the 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 500-yard freestyle, the 1500-meter race/walk and the 5000-meter race/walk

They sincerely encourage citizens of Thermopolis who are 50-plus to register for the next state meet in Cheyenne in 2018. It would be a great way to give it a try because it is a non-qualifying year. The sports range from archery, badminton, basketball, billiards, bowling, canoe racing, cycling, darts, disc golf, horseshoes, mountain biking, pickleball, raquetball, road race, skeet shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, trap shooting, triathlon and weightlifting.

There is always a parade of the athletes and a lighting of the torch to begin the games and a closing banquet with a motivating guest speaker who inspires all to want to remain physically fit and to compete in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. This year's medals were unique in that they had a 150-year pin attached to them because this is the 150th year since Laramie was made a city.

"The medals are only secondary to the joy of reuniting with friends made in past years! It's a wonderful way to stay young because competing compels one to practice and to train and to work out," Marion stated. "In fact, we were inspired by the 99-year-old athlete who ran the 100 dash and who looks forward to competing in the nationals in New Mexico in 2019."

The Wyoming Senior Olympics are considered "open" therefore any resident of the United States and Canada age 50 and older is eligible to participate. Age divisions for all men and women are as follows: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-100. Age for competition is determined by the athlete's age as of December 31, 2019.