toledoblade.com --

Talk about an active lifestyle.

Holland resident Gary Kidd shot 25 for 25 yesterday in a free-throw contest in the St. Francis de Sales High School gym, then competed in discus, shot put, javelin, and chess events, and finished up with a little three-on-three basketball.

Not bad for a 62-year-old who describes himself as an avid fitness buff who had more than competition on his mind, despite winning the free-throw contest for his age group.

"It's a game," he said. "But when you come out to something like today, there's a lot of friendship too."

Senior fitness was the order of the day Saturday at the 2009 50+ Sports Classic presented by the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio Inc.

The event attracted about 170 participants, ages 50 to 94, from as far away as Columbus and Kentucky, according to Justin Moor, the Area Office on Aging's spokesman.

"We're focused on healthy aging and preventing disease through exercise," he explained.

Leona Ault, 81, of Perrysburg Township shows off the six medals she won in events at the Sports Classic.
( THE BLADE/LORI KING )

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"You can prevent things like diabetes by staying active."

To compete yesterday, entrants had to be at least 50.

The top two winners in each of the events - which included golf, swimming, track and field, table tennis, chess, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, tennis, and bowling - can advance to the Ohio Senior Olympics.

The venues were Ottawa and Highland parks, St. Francis de Sales High School, and Bowlero Lanes.

The individual competitors were something of a self-selected group, given that most of them had fitness-oriented lifestyles.

Nobody exemplified this better than Bev Myers, a 72-year-old Toledoan who competed in the swimming events.

She was lean as a whippet in her swimsuit, and completely at home in the water. She said she was a retired YMCA fitness instructor and swims five times a week at the Wolf Creek Y. Her exercise routine also includes weight lifting and time on a treadmill.

"Most of the people here are in pretty good shape," she said while poolside at St. Francis.

Another swimmer was Don Kroegen, 65, of Monroe, who said he tries to swim five days a week.

"I'm a diabetic, and swimming is good for that," he explained. "One of the keys to managing diabetes is to exercise and limit your food."

Paul Smithers, 72, of Perrysburg competed in 11 events: golf, 100-yard dash, discus, long jump, shot put, javelin, three-on-three basketball, free throw, and three swimming competitions.

Mr. Smithers said he and a group of buddies play basketball regularly at Lourdes College.

"I golf, swim, and I work out. The wife and I both do it. We're very active," he said.

"It's just too bad we don't have more of a turnout today. The more competition, the merrier."

Contact Carl Ryan at:
carlryan@theblade.com
or 419-724-6050.

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