More than 50 athletes age 50-plus will compete in golf, pickleball, tennis, track and field and table tennis from Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9 here in Moab.
The Moab Senior Games, now in its second year, provides a competitive venue for those who still want to play and win.
“Spectators are welcome,” said Suzan Martin, founder of the Moab Senior Games.
Martin said that athletes are coming from as far as Alaska, California, New Mexico and Arizona to compete.
Each state has at least one senior game competition. One of the largest in the nation is the Huntsman World Senior Games, which is held for two weeks each October in St. George.
Some of Moab’s athletes who competed in the World Senior Games will be competing in Moab’s games this weekend. One of those Moab athletes was Glenda Ciarus.
“I won a bronze medal in golf. It was so much fun,” Ciarus said.
She is looking forward to competing in golf at the Moab Golf Club during the Moab Senior Games.
“It should be a lot of fun because it is a course I play all the time,” she said.
Athletes will be able to win gold, silver and bronze medals.
“The medals are what it is all about. People will have them displayed as a collection,” Martin said. “They have their medals from senior games they’ve attended and won.”
As senior games become more available across the nation, these athletes have ample opportunity to increase their skills, as well as maintain good health.
“If you’re fit enough at 50, you’ll be generally fit enough into your 70s,” Martin said.
The largest sport this year is track and field. There are several categories within track and field for seniors to choose. There are different meter dashes and runs. They will also compete in shot put, discus, as well as soccer, football and baseball throws.
“We do all of these at the high school,” Martin said.
Senior athletes also compete on the tennis courts at the high school.
There will also be three socials, two for athletes and a third for volunteers.
“There will be three nights of partying,” Martin said.
The first awards night will be held at Zax Restaurant on Friday. The second awards night will feature Zax’s food, but will be held at Aarchway Inn on Saturday. Sunday night will be a night for all the volunteers.
“Moab Brewery will provide the beer and Castle Creek Winery will provide the wine,” Martin said.
Martin is already planning for the future. She’s working on having the Moab Senior Games certified through the National Senior Games Association.
“That means a lot of people would be coming in to certify for nationals in 2015,” Martin said.
