Team Barbados earned 36 medals at the recently concluded Pennsylvania Senior Games. The 12-member team, under the auspices of the Barbados Masters and Seniors Athletic Club (BAMSAC), returned 21 gold medals, 13 silver, and two bronze.
Despite the focus being on the youth as they represent Barbados at the Olympic Games in Paris, these seniors have been excelling on the track and field for the island. At the Wilkes-Barre Area High School Complex, they truly demonstrated that sport is for life.
85-year-old Sheila Martindale won gold in the women’s 85-89 shot put, discus, and 50m, and claimed the silver in the javelin throw.
Angela Holder sprinted and power-walked her way to a total of seven medals, including two gold and five silver. Holder topped the 1500m and 5K power walk, and took second place in shot put, discus, 50m, 100m, and 200m in the 70-74 age range.
Petra Garnes performed well to win gold in the women’s 75-79 1500m power walk and 5K power walk.
Mark Norville also copped four gold medals in the men’s 80-84 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Cecil Garnes performed well to win gold in the 400m, silver in the 50m, 100m, and 200m in the 75-79 category.
Wayne Sobers ran well and placed an admirable fifth in the 800m and sixth in the 1500m distance races in the 60-64 events.
Erma Thornhill was ecstatic with her gold in the 50m, 100m, and 200m in the women’s 65-69 bracket.
Winning gold in the 200, 400 and 800m silver in the Women’s 60-64 200m, 400m and 800m was Yolanda Alleyne, while Marcelline Christie claimed the silver in the same events behind her compatriot.
Also having a great Games was Quostan Peters who earned the silver in the shot put and discus (60-64).
Judy-Anne Mascoll dominated the Women’s 55-59 category, running away with the gold medals in the 200, 400 and 800m. Maureen Mascoll brought home the bronze in the 100m and 200m in the same division.
The Pennsylvania Senior Games, hosted by Keystone State Games, Inc, was a qualifier for the 2025 Senior Olympics, which will be held in Iowa. BAMSAC athletes have cleared the first hurdle, which was to qualify for the event.
Next on the cards for the seniors will be to continue to train to improve times and distances so that the BAMSAC athletes can also be successful at the more competitive Senior Olympics in July 2025.
(AS)
