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Competing for Gold
North Carolina Senior Games
September 26, 2019

G
ordon Kellog, Larry Widdecombe, and Elaine D’Arienzo. All are Oriental residents and competitors in the 2019 North Carolina Senior Games.

Gordon and Larry Widdecombe teamed up to compete in the Men’s Doubles, 75-79 age bracket for tennis, competing on the clay courts at the Raleigh Racquet Club. “We have to beat three other groups of old guys,” Larry said. “We’re hope they’re slow and old.”

Their opponents, one of whom was a tennis instructor, won the match.

North Carolina Senior Games
Garry Kellogg and Larry Widdecombe practicing for the North Carolina Senior Games. (Photo Jennifer Pawlikowski)

Elaine D’Arienzo, who prior to the 2019 local Neuse River Senior Games had not competed in nearly 50 years, took home gold medals in all her events: the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, and 200 yard freestyle in the Women’s 60-64 age bracket.

Elaine will compete in next year’s State Games with an eye on qualifying for the 2021 National Senior Games.

North Carolina Senior Games
Elaine D’Arienzo at the North Carolina Senior Games swim meet in Cary, NC. (Photo Michael D’Arienzo)

There are other Senior Games competitors in Oriental. Fay Bond, in her 90s, and her daughter Irma Bond-Maxbauer have been competing at the state and national levels. Fay most recently competed in the Discus, Shot Put, and Long Jump events, 95-99 age bracket. Irma competed in the Long Jump, and 50, 100, and 200 Meter Dash events, 65-69 age bracket. Both participated in the 2019 National Senior Games held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

North Carolina Senior Games
Left to Right: Fay Bond, Susan Maier, Irma Bond-Maxbauer in the Croaker Festival Parade.

The North Carolina Senior Games began in 1983. Competitors 50 and older compete in local games to qualify for the annual event. The National Senior Games are every two years.

Posted Thursday September 26, 2019 by Allison DeWeese


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