Flint Leads Local Athletes Competing in National Senior Games
by Ken Brown
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Hardwick Gazette’s very own Jim Flint and several local athletes will be competing against the best in the country at the National Senior games in sunny South Florida next week from May 10-16.
This will be the fifth trip to the Nationals for the 63-years-young Flint, who has been a mentor and teacher for many in the running community around the state. He also helped build the training foundation as head coach of the budding powerhouse that is the Craftsbury Academy track and field team.
Flint will be joined by Tim Hogeboom (third trip) and Elizabeth McCarthy (fourth trip) of Walden. They will both be competing in the 70- to 79-age-group in the 5k and 10k road races.
Donna Symers of Adamant will be making her first appearance at Nationals, competing in the 65- to 69- age-group. Symers will be competing in triathlon, 5k and 10k cycling time trials, as well as the 20k and 40k cycling road races.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each event, with commemorative ribbons given to places 4 through 8. Flint placed seventh in both the 5k and 10k events in the 2019 Nationals held at Albuquerque, N.M. He will be competing in the 60- to 64-age-group in both events this year.
“There are 40 entries in the 5k and 30 entries in the 10k and my age group is loaded with talent. Now at 63, it will be all the more challenging to make the podium,” said Flint.
Flint’s 5k race will start at 7 a.m., next Thursday at the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and his 10k road test will start at 7:30 a.m.. in Vista View Park, Broward County’s highest man-made elevation, 65 ft. above sea level.
“Morning temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s and the road course is looping with some hills, which is rare for south Florida. Given the cool spring weather that we’ve trained in up to this point, running and cycling in warm weather will be the most challenging part for us. This is my fifth trip and it is always a thrill to participate with more runners than ever in the competition. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for a good race,” said Flint.
