Selected photos posted from the California Senior Games
Check out our latest photo album. My wife, Chris, and I brought our trusty Nikon D80 to Caltech last Saturday for the California Senior Games. I chose 30 images for this gallery, mainly shots with pop. I’m always amazed at the effort shown in the faces of javelin throwers. This time, we also saw a softball throw event, won by Bob Powers, who also is a world-class M55 spearchucker. A series of shots featuring Bob starts here. He used a javelin-style approach and release with the softball throw. His ball flew 255 feet. (They didn’t use a tape. Just eyeballed feet for each throw.) I also got some miscellaneous jumper, runner and sprinter shots. If you see one you’d like in high-resolution, give me a holler.Â
4 Responses
eyeball measuring? If they can measure discus throws with a tape, why not a softball throw?
I guess this was an unofficial “fun” event, but sets a “backyard” tone for the meet.
Alright…! I’m submitting into Masterstrack.com rankings last weeks “Eye Ball” observation of a friend of mine coming to see me at one of my practices. As he walked from the parking lot to the shot put ring he yelled out ” Dude… did you just throw that thing over 55′? Did, I say pratice…? No…I meant I threw at the 1st Annual M.G. Colorado Shot Put Extravaganza!!! Only Men throwers with initials M.G. that live in Aurora, Co. and are 45-49 qualify…LOLOL…That is bizzare that results of a major meet would be “eyeballed” and not measured. I heard they timed the sprinters by counting outloud, “…One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three…
Softball throw is considered a “novelty event” in Senior Olympics. But all other events were run according to USATF rules, and I observed no problems at Caltech. In fact, the high jump was very well run — and by one lone gentleman.
At some Senior Olympics, the softball throw is also an accuracy event. They have a chalk line drawn down the middle of the field. After estimating the length of the throw, they subtract the distance from the line.
In Tucson, they include these events at their Senior Olympics:
* Softball Throw—A standard softball will be thrown for distance. An 11″ ball will be used for women and a 12″ ball for men.
* Punt, Pass & Kick—A standard football will be punted, passed and kicked (off tee or the ground) for distance.
* Obstacle Course—Competitors will be timed to see how fast they can finish the obstacle course. Time penalties will be assessed for course violations.
* Frisbee Toss—A Frisbee will be tossed for distance.
* Bowling Pin Throw—A bowling pin will be thrown for distance.
* Basketball Throw—A regulation basketball will be tossed, using two hands, for distance.
* Chin-ups—Competitors will be judged on total number of chin-ups with proper technique.
* Nail Hammering—The contestant who hammers the most nails into a board in 60 (sixty) seconds wins.
I love these offbeat events. They’re fun. Let me know of any more records as long as I know how they’re recorded–eyeball, tape, size of softball, etc. Great site!
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