Gator Games attracts 240 competitors

The 2009 Brunswick County Gator Senior Games had 240 participants in 80 athletic and artistic events. The top-three finishers in each age category, male and female, qualified to compete in the state finals in the fall.

The Brunswick County Gator Senior Games began April 8 with opening ceremonies at Town Creek Park and ended May 11 with a celebration social and medals ceremony at the Cooperative Extension Building in the county government center.

John Keilman won the most medals and ribbons for men and also the first annual Gator award for sportsmanship. Among the events which he finished first in his 60-64 age group: discus, shot put (25 feet, 5 inches), standing long jump, basketball shooting, football throw and the softball throw

He was first in track in the 100-meter dash (18.59 seconds), the 400 (1:41.60), the 800 (4:27.28), the 1,500 (9:03.70) and the 5,000 (34:27).

Joyce Lowrimore won the most medals and ribbons among the women competitors. Among the events in which she placed first in her 55-59 age group: bocce, horseshoes, basketball shooting, football throw, softball throw, spin casting and shuffleboard.

Pictures of some of the other winners are below.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY KHRYSTYE HASELDEN

Aaron Perkins of Brunswick County Parks and Recreation presents Gator Senior Games medals to Joyce Lowrimore. She won the most medals and ribbons among the women competitors. In the background is Melinda Johnson, also of the county parks and recreation department.

Barbara McMichael, Martha Reese, Walli Yedziniak and Michaela Richardson competed in tennis. McMichael was first in doubles and mixed doubles in the 70-74 age group. Reese was first in doubles in the 70-74 group. Yedziniak was first in doubles and mixed doubles in the 65-69 group. Richardson was first in doubles in the 65-69 group.

Athletes gathered for the celebration social and medals ceremony May 11.

Cora Frink, Yoshi Killgore, Charles Killgore, Helen Bellamy and Peggy Owens participated in billiards. Frink was third in horseshoes among those 70-74. Yoshi Killgore was first in spin casting and the SilverStriders Fun Walk among those 70-74. She was second in billiards and third in bocce. Charles Killgore was first in billiards among those 70-74. He was first in the SilverStriders Fun Walk, second in shuffleboard and third in spin casting. Bellamy was first among those 70-74 in the SilverStriders Fun Walk and second in bocce.

Dick Landry, Jim Strandquist and Henry Kirchner participated in the Senior Games.

Landry was first in six events in track and field among those 75-79. He won the discus, the running long jump, the standing long jump and the shot put (16 feet, 5 inches). He won the 100-meter sprint in 19.72 seconds and the 200 in 50.28. Kirchner won the shot put among those 65-69 with a mark of 30-7. See separate photo for Stranquist’s victories.

James Murray, Dennis Maneri, Tom Layden, Ken Weyman, Don Kehoe, Laura Botto, Anne Kowalski and Mary Fonte. Murray won five events in swimming in the 65-69 age group. He was first in the 50-yard breaststroke (59.53 seconds), the 100 breaststroke (2:17.44), 100 freestyle (2:05.31), 200 freestyle (3:05.50), 500 freestyle (11:19.19). He also was on the first-place team in the softball tournament. Among those 55-59, Maneri was first in the 100 breaststroke (1:26.60) and first in the 200 breaststroke (3:09.13). Kehoe was second in the 70-74 group in three swimming events: the 50 freestyle (39.22), the 100 (1:35.63) and the 200 (3:29.72). In golf, he was second, shooting an 88. Botto was first in five swimming events among those 55-59: the 50 freestyle (36.81), the 50 backstroke (45.87), the 100 backstroke (1:39.90), the 100 freestyle (1:28.70) and the 100 medley (1:39.16). Mary Fonte was first in the 60-64 group in the SilverStriders Fun Walk and was first in performing arts in cheerleading and dance. See separate photo for Layden’s and Weyman’s victories.

Jim Strandquist competes in the long jump, in which he finished first in the 65-69 age group. He also was first in the standing long jump and the discus. In track, he won the 100-meter race in 16.75 seconds and the 200 in 47.17. In cycling, he did the 1-mile in 2:55.97, the 5,000 in 9:38.63 and the 10,000 in 19:27.19.

John Keilman won the most medals and ribbons for men and also the first annual Gator award for sportsmanship.

Karen McKinnon, Marjorie Foote, June Froelich and Linda Fluegel competed in tennis.

Froelich was first in singles in the 65-69 age group and second in doubles. Fluegel was first in singles in the 60-64 age group and second in doubles. Foote was first in doubles in the 60-64 age group.

Ken Weyman and Tom Layden competed in swimming. Weyman, in the 70-74 age group, was first in five events: 50-yard freestyle (32.75 seconds), 50 butterfly (46.97), 100 freestyle (1:14.69), 200 freestyle (2:50.28) and 500 freestyle (7:56.43).

Layden, in the 60-64 age group, was first in the 50 freestyle (34.37), 50 butterfly (46.41), 100 freestyle (1:22.13), 200 freestyle (4:07.12) and the 500 freestyle (8:41.90).

Larry Schafer sits next to his first-place portrait, Ellie.

Mike Verhoosky and Carl Teagardner watch as Peggy Owens is about to make a shot in pool. Verhoosky was first in billiards among those 60-64 and first in golf by shooting a 79. Teagardner was first in billiards among those 65-69 and third in golf by shooting an 81.

Keith Webb, Nancy Roberts, Bobbie Davis and Jan Howard competed in golf. Webb was first in golf in the 55-59 age group, shooting an 87. Roberts was first in the 80-84 group, shooting a 111. Davis was first in the 70-74 group, shooting a 95. Howard was second in the 65-69 group, shooting an 88.