"Senior talent on display...Competition gets under way in Washington State Senior Games" -- July 29, 2006

By Caleb Breakey
The Olympian

Two poles support a sign in Capitol Forest, engulfed by the bark and branches of countless alders. With middle-aged mountain bikers swirling about the trees, decked with helmets and spandex, the sign seems to bear a double meaning.

Its first sentence reads, "On this hill you can see the start of a new and healthy ..."

While the sign refers to a forest reclamation of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, its initial words seem to illuminate the core of the 2006 Washington State Senior Games, which kicked off Friday with mountain biking, tennis and hammer throwing.

The sign's first sentence must end, "generation of talented senior athletes," to fully encapsulate the games.

The participants flashed hearty, fresh talent throughout the day.

"These are serious, dedicated, challenging people who are continuing to participate," said Jack Kiley, president of the Puget Sound Senior Games, which presents the Washington State Senior Games. "They can compete in local competitions, but once a year on an age basis, they can compete with their peers and see how good they are. That's what we provide."

Kiley said the games appeal to both serious athletes and people who just look for fun and companionship, such as Ron and Judy Larson, who play tennis.

Spanning five tennis courts, an oval shaped dome towered over the heads of half a dozen senior tennis players at The Valley Athletic Club in Tumwater. A large fan blew into the open space above Judy and the other players, and a string of 44 fluorescent lights hung from metal chains, lining the courts from end to end.

Ron, 67, looked through the tennis lounge's 10 windows which overlook the courts, watching Judy swat a left-handed, overhand serve.

Dressed in a pink tank top and black shorts - short, grey hair topping her head - Judy, 70, lobbed a shot over the heads of her opponents, scoring a point in her doubles match.

"That's my baby," Ron shouted from the lounge as Judy raised a clinched fist, revealing a sarcastic smile as the couple caught each others' eyes. "Wow, topspin. She doesn't hold back."

The Larsons, who met at the club 15 years ago and married three years later, won their respective doubles tennis championships in last year's games, and now hang gold medals on their home's mantle.

Ron said the shiny decorations awe some of their company, and that he likes his chances at adding more awards.

"Our grandkids are so impressed," he said.

This year marked a first for the mountain biking event and hammer throw, which took place at Centralia High School. The scheduled morning kayaking event was cancelled because not enough people registered.

Bob Lawson, 71, who competed in the hurdles and high jump in high school, won the first flight in the hammer throws.

"When you can't run or jump, you throw," Lawson said. "There's just not enough competition for people to throw hammers."

Todd Taylor, 59, competing in the 60-64 age group, threw upwards of 170-feet in the hammer throw. He said the gritty event simply fits him -- tough and grueling.

"It's kind of that Braveheart, medieval kind of 'rah!' he said. "Throw something heavy."

After he had thrown the hammer 174-feet -- his goal was 190-feet -- Todd walked back to where his wife, Joyce, was sitting.

"It must be going uphill," Joyce said as he approached.

"No, I must be going down hill," Todd joked.

Lawson said the hammer throw event should grow next year, especially since it had 17 entrants in its first go-round.

"People just have to find out that there're opportunities," he said. "When people hear that they had this up here, they'll get mad and say, 'Oh, why didn't I do that?' "