MSG Track and Field: Age Not An Issue

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Mesquite Senior Games Track and Field event, held on Saturday, Mar. 25 at the Virgin Valley High School stadium proved that age is just a number. With 50 being the minimum age to compete, and given the strenuous categories of events being offered, it was remarkable the number of participants who showed up with the stamina and skills to compete.

There were athletes in the long jump, triple jump, javelin, discus, shot put, Pole Vault and a whole aray of different races from the 50m dash all the way up to the 5000m run.

A total of 66 senior athletes were on deck and ready on Saturday morning, along with many senior volunteers to help run the events. Also at the ready to help was a crew of Virgin Valley High School track athletes willing to volunteer to help keep the events moving. Greg Duutkowski served as sports announcer for the event.

Shaun Edwards, board member and Sports Director was also the track and field event coordinator. The games were spread around the high school complex sports facilities coordinated to end shortly after 1 PM.

Larry Hathhorn was running the pole vaulting event. Hathhorn is 84 years-old-himself, and a pole vaulter to boot. Although he was not competing that day.

Hathorn’s friend 82-year-old Mardon Connelly and his son Gary Connelly, 55, were competing in the event. Mardon, a resident of Overton, has been a pole vaulter since his high school years at MVHS. Except for the four years he spent in the U.S. Navy he has kept in practice for the sport.

Mardon was born and raised in Moapa Valley. He won a full scholarship to Utah State college because in high school he could vault higher than the college teams. He became a math, science teacher and team coach at a middle school in California.

He always competed in pole vaulting, saying the highlights in his sports life was taking first place in the U.S. Track and Field competition and third place in the World Games in Buffalo, New York.

Since retiring, Mardon has moved back to Moapa Valley and competes in Senior Games each year.
“The only injury I have suffered was a back injury once and I currently have a sore knee,” Mardon said.

On Saturday, Connelly won the gold in his age division for a 5’ vault. His son Gary won the Gold in his age division for an 8’ vault.

Kristy Matthews and Eldred Smikle came from San Diego, California to compete in Senior Games running events. They said, Mesquite Games was only the second competition they were participating in. But they are preparing for the San Diego Senior Games in the fall. They were very excited getting ready for the 400m run.

Participants were awarded Gold, Bronze, and Silver medals in each track and field event and age category. Women all ages, Men 70+ Men 60-69 Men 50-59

The weather on Saturday was chilly and cloudy early on in the morning. But the Sun came out around 9:30 and it turned out to be a beautiful day to be out on the VVHS track.

Attendees were treated to viewing the strength, endurance and determination of the elder generation.