Virginia State Senior Games, Track and Field Competition

Here is a recap of this weekends events at the Virgina State Senior Games, Track and Field Competition held in Newport News Virginia.  NOVA's Hannah Phillips competed and finished the day with 2 Golds and 2 Silver and provided this write up of the competition.


Master Athlete Hannah Phillips runs for 2Golds and 2 Silver finishes at State Senior Games

NEWPORT NEWS, VA -   A hardy group of master athletes age 50 or better assembled at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on Saturday  for the Virginia  Senior Games Track and Field competition.

     New NOVA member and Master athlete Hannah Phillips, 61, of Alexandria, produced a PB in the 1500m, beating her 2007 time at the bi-annual National Senior Games in Louisville, Kentucky by more than 2 seconds with a 6:40.26 finish. She also ran in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.   Earlier in the week Phillips improved her 3K  time  by 29 seconds for another PB effort to complete the race in 15:00 flat at the Tidal Basin Run, an ongoing Washington DC institution.   Both of  Phillips' race times met or exceeded the USATF All-America standard. 

     Linda Wells, 64,  of Charlottesville, VA finished about 7 seconds ahead in the 1500-meter race.  The  female All-America standard for the age group in that event is 6:45. 

     The rest of the N. VA contingent at the track events  consisted of  Peter Blank (PVTC) competing in the 5K, and 1500-meter race walks, and in the 1500 -meter run  for extra measure.  He medaled in his racewalking events.  Another NoVa woman in the 60-64 age  medaled in the 100-meter with a 17: 06 run.   More than 100 competitors were on hand, showing up from throughout VA as well as New Jersey, PA, NC and New York.   It was 60 degrees, windy and overcast for most of the day, threatening to rain but didn't.  The Senior Games Track and Field  event is sanctioned by USATF.
  
The monthly Tidal Basin Runs are co-sponsored by the Road Runners' Club of America, the National President's Fitness Challenge and coordinated/organized by PVTC.   The course starts from East Potomac Park in Hains Point and is held  on the 3d Wednesday of the month, starting at 11:50 a.m.  Three distances are offered:  1500-meter, 3K, and a 5K loop.