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Daily Dispatch: 2007 Senior Games

After an initial rain delay, cyclists compete in Monday's 40K race. Day 4 of ELDR's exclusive coverage.

Text and Photo by Fred Minnick

Monday, June 25, 2007

With steep hills and curvy turns, the 40K Cycling Road Course proved to be a challenging ride Monday morning.

"This was a tough course, but it was beautiful," with lush green trees and grass, says Elton Hammond Jr., 82, from Lima, Ohio. Hammond has been riding recreationally since the 1970s, but began competing in 2002 after his wife died. Cycling has become his refuge.

"I keep telling people I'm 28 and I have dyslexia," he says. Had it not been for a calf injury, the jovial Hammond says he would have been able to train harder and perhaps finished higher than sixth this year. But there's always next year, he says.

"You darn right I'll be back next year," he says.

Dale Goering, 76, from Santa Fe, N.M., also did not finish as well as he would have liked. He's not accustomed to Kentucky's humidity and placed ninth in the 75-79 Men's Division. Goering says a handful of cyclists lapped him.

"There were some good ones out there," Goering says.

David Ward, a 91-year-old Massachusetts native, earned the gold medal in the 90-94 Division. A fan favorite, Ward volunteers at his local aging organization and was the oldest athlete in the cycling field.

"I (race competitively) to show people you have to do something," Ward says.

Antoon Huyghe won the 75-79 Division in 1:14:20. Robert Bergen took the 80-84 Division in 1:17:44. Larry Johnson won the 85-89 with a 1:20:29 time.

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