By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
The ESPN College GameDay Basketball program will be making it first visit to Texas A&M on Saturday, but that’s not the only sports highlight in College Station this weekend.
A total of 441 athletes between the ages of 49-90 are competing in the Brazos Valley Senior Games from Thursday through Sunday at venues across Bryan-College Station. Among the competitors are 372 out-of-towners — including one from North Carolina — and 141 women.
The Brazos Valley Senior Games is another shining example of the city’s growing presence in the sports tourism industry, which has become a significant economic driver in our community.
We invite you to check out the action — admission is free! For more information and a complete schedule of events and locations, visit cstx.gov/seniors or call 979-764-3486.
Here’s the breakdown of participants by sport:
| 5K Run – 28 | Golf – 18 |
| Archery – 8 | Horseshoes – 9 |
| Basketball 3-on-3– 6 teams | Pickleball – 125 |
| Basketball Free Throws – 19 | Swimming – 30 |
| Basketball Skills – 16 | Table Tennis – 33 |
| Bowling – 38 | Tennis – 20 |
| Cornhole – 17 | Track & Field – 93 |
| Cycling – 51 | Washers – 9 |
| Disc Golf – 9 |
Other notable facts
Joe Barger of Austin is the oldest male athlete at the age of 90 years and three months. He is competing in the 5K run and six track running events – 50-meters, 100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters, and 1,500-meters.
Eleanor Freebairn of Bryan is the oldest female athlete at the age of 88 years and 11 months. She is competing in the 1500-meter run.
Michael McDavid of Buchanan Dam is competing in the highest number of events at 14, mostly in track & field. In addition to seven running events, he’ll compete in the 3,000-meter race walk, javelin, shot put, high jump, long jump, cycling 5K and 10K time trial.
Randy Swann of Raleigh, N.C., traveled 1,242 miles to compete. Other out-of-state athletes are representing New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Jim Gerhardt of Houston, a 1952 Olympian, will compete in his fourth Brazos Valley Senior Games. He’ll participate in four field events in track — the discus, hammer throw, javelin, and shot put. Gerhardt placed 11th in the triple jump at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland.
A total of 228 volunteers — mostly Texas A&M students — will assist staff throughout the event.
Photos: 2015 Brazos Valley Senior Games
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