The 2022 Florida Senior Games, presented came to a conclusion in Florida’s Sports Coast/Pasco County at 6:20 p.m. when Ruth Weil and Brad Martin, from The Villages, defeated Kathy and James Williams, of Tampa, in the gold medal match of the 70-74 age group.
During the second weekend of the 31st Annual Florida Senior Games, over 1,000 athletes were in action in 10 different sports. Over the course of the nine days of Florida’s only Olympic-style Sports Festival for athletes age 50 and over, more than 2,100 athletes competed in 23 sports.
Eight records were set on the track at Cypress Creek High School and Sonja Friend-Uhl, of Boca Raton, and Loretta Turner, accounted for half of them each setting two records.
After setting a new overall best women’s time in the 5K Road Race on Saturday, Friend-Uhl did the same thing on Sunday in the 800 and 1500 meter runs.
Friend-Uhl’s 800 meter time of 2:37.98 topped the previous overall best by six seconds and her 1500 meter time of 5:26.22 was 11 seconds better than the previous top time. Both previous bests were set by April Hernandez, of Jupiter, in 2020.
While Friend-Uhl was setting the distance records, Loretta Turner, of Powder Springs, GA, was putting up some quick times in the sprint events. Turner won the 65-69 age group Women’s 100 meter dash with a time of 15.26 to set the new record and her 50 meter time of 8.11 is now the new record in the 65-69 age group.
Andrea Collier, of Orlando received her 2021 Florida Senior Games Female Athlete of the Year award prior to her events today and responded with gold medal performances in the 50 and 100 meter dash in the 55-59 age group.
Following today’s powerlifting competition at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, five lifters received awards for their overall performances. The gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as the Top Lifters, was determined by using a formula that combines a ratio of the athlete’s age group, body weight and the weight lifted.
The Men’s Best Powerlifting Award went to Kenneth Bennett, of The Villages, the Best Push/Pull Award was won by Tim Quinn and the Best Bench Press went to Patrick Delio. Winning the Best Women’s Powerlifting Award was Tina Webber and the Best Bench Press was earned by Linda Rosseau.
Orlando City Volleyball won the Men’s 50+ age group with five wins at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. Orlando City won all four of its pool play matches in two games, but had one stretch to three games in the Championship Final. Orlando City defeated High Maintenance 25-16, 22-25, 15-6 to win the gold medal in the 50-54 age group.
Florida Senior Games athletes can make their plans for the 2023 and 2024 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana, as the Games return to Florida’s Sports Coast/Pasco County for the next two years. The 2023 Florida Senior Games Local Series Qualifiers begin in January, 2023, with the Heartland Senior Games, in Sebring, beginning on January 13. The Gulf Coast Senior Games, in Sarasota and Bradenton, begin on January 14. Visit www.floridaseniorgames.com/all-sports-schedule for a listing of 2023 Florida Senior Games Local Qualifiers.
The 31st Annual Florida Senior Games, is a program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports and promotion organization of the State of Florida, presented in conjunction with Florida’s Sports Coast.
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