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The heat may have been oppressive at Stanford University Monday, but it apparently didn’t faze Canadian Pam Stuart, who took home the gold medal in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 8.03-meters in the Senior Games 50-54 age group.
Stuart, 54, who qualified in Utah, also won the gold in the long jump Sunday and took a silver medal in the javelin Saturday during competition at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field. She took third in the 100-meter dash Monday and is currently competing in volleyball. Last week Stuart competed in soccer.
In the men’s triple jump, Greg Monson, 51, of Illinois won the gold with a 10.85 meter jump. He was followed by Donald Watson of Walnut Creek, who just missed the gold with a jump of 10.82 meters. Before the final, Scott Evans, 53, of Ohio, said he was satisfied with his first jump of the day, coming close to a personal record. Evans started jumping in college and has been jumping since then. This is his second Senior Games.
His wish to win a medal came true, as he took the bronze with a jump of 10.5 meters, not far off the winning pace.
Agnes Green, 57, of Florida, won the gold in the discus with a personal record of 91 feet and four inches. She started training three years ago and this is her second Senior Games.
“It is inspiring to see so much wellness around,” she said, “As a physician I see so much sickness, so this is really inspiring.”
Lynn Osborne, 56, of Louisville, won the bronze medal in the discus, chalking up a personal record with a throw of 85 feet, 3 inches.
“I did a lot better than I expected,” she said, “It’s great to see 90-year-olds with so much competitiveness.”
Roger Davis, 51, of Okalahoma, ran the 200-meter dash in 25.2, close to his personal record. Davis is ranked 13th in the nation. He also qualified for the 400-meter race but dropped out. If he did end up running the 400, he would be running five races in four hours, he said.
Unlike Davis, Charles Allie, 61, of Pennsylvania, chose to run three races in the same day. Allie is competing in the 100-meter, the 200-meter, and the 400-meter.
“In order to advance,” he said, “I have to preserve myself and my energy.”
Allie, who has been running since junior high school, said he has the speed and endurance necessary to compete in all three events. This means that Allie will be running five races in four hours.
“My expectation is to medal,” Allie said. “The heat won’t affect my race.”
Allie is the national and world champion. He keeps running to stay healthy and maintain a lifestyle.
Jim Fugui, 55, of Alabama, took home the gold for the men’s javelin. He started throwing two years ago, when he had to stop running due to his 12 knee surgeries. Fugui has also had seven surgeries on his throwing arm.
“It’s a miracle that I can even throw,” he said.
Related material:
■ VIDEO: Up close and personal – Interviews with Senior Games athletes
■ VIDEO Celebration of Athletes features Steve Young, Jennifer Azzi
■ Senior Games Daily (Aug. 11, 2009) (PDF)