2018 New Hampshire Senior Games wrap up in Manchester
Dozens of athletes from around the United States and Canada competed in the 40th annual 2018 New Hampshire Senior Games Sunday.
Athletes ranging from ages 35 to 94 set out to prove that age is only a state of mind.
Nearly 200 athletes competed in track and field events, including a 50-meter run and pole vaulting.
One of the day’s standouts was Flo Meiler. At 84 years young, she competed in eight events. Meiler holds the world record for pole vaulting in her age group. Her interest in the sport began 20 years ago.
"I was watching some ladies at one of the National Senior Games, and the bar was not set very high, and I love challenges,” she said. “And I said, ‘I think I can do this.’”
"We have (athletes) from as far away as Florida, California and Quebec,” said track and field director Lee Hess. “All of the New England states, most of the northeastern states are covered. So it's a really good representation of the overall northeast."
All winners went home with medals, but only a few will meet national qualifying marks to compete in the 2019 National Senior Games, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Click to watch the WMUR video.
About the New Hampshire Senior Games
The mission of the Granite State Senior Games, Inc. (GSSG) is to promote, organize and effectively develop physical challenges, as they relate to the New Hampshire senior athlete and the 50+ population of the state of New Hampshire, undertake related activities benefitting the well-being of adults as appropriate and focusing on the development of active and healthy lifestyles. Our mission is accomplished by encouraging fitness and by providing athletic competition in a variety of sports, clinics and creative pursuits.
Founded in 1987, Granite State Senior Games, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) and New Hampshire Registered Public Charity all volunteer sports and fitness organization governed by a Board of Directors. The Granite State Senior Games' (GSSG's) sporting events are known as the New Hampshire Senior Games (NHSG). We are New Hampshire’s premier multi-sport event for the 50+ population. NHSG is the only New Hampshire organization in the state to be sanctioned by the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) to qualify senior athletes for participation in the National Senior Games held every other year in odd-numbered years. To learn more, please visit www.nhseniorgames.org.