2015 National Senior Games to be Held in the Twin Cities July 3-16

Via a June 8 Press Release from Mill City Commons:

2015 National Senior Games to be held in the Twin Cities July 3-16
Mill City Commons will field two entries

More than 12,000 athletes ages 50 and up from all over the country will compete in the National Senior Games (www.nsga.com/special-events.aspx), a 19-sport, biennial national championship for men and women 50 and over. The largest multi-sport event in the world for senior athletes, this year’s competition will take place over 13 days in July in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. All events are free and open to the public.

The Senior Games will kick off in the Mill City neighborhood at 8 p.m. on July 4 prior to the annual “Red, White & Boom” fireworks at Father Hennepin Park. Competing athletes will accompany a symbolic torch and flame across the Stone Arch bridge celebrating their arrival in Minneapolis after traveling throughout the state. There will be 851 Minnesota athletes competing in the 12-day competition.

Among the senior athlete competitors will be two downtown riverfront residents and Mill City Commons (MCC) members: Penny Hunt and Penny Winton.  Both competed in late May in the Minnesota Senior Games held in St. Cloud and both won gold medals. Penny Winton won her Gold in the 50 yard freestyle swim event for seniors ages 80-84; Penny Hunt earned hers by winning her age group in the 5K Road Race.

Below - Penny Winton, left, and Penny Hunt, right, with game poster.

On Monday, July 6, Penny Hunt will run in the 5K Road Race with 18 entrants in the 70-74 category.  Her race starts at 8 am at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. On Thursday, July 9, Penny Winton will swim with 15 entrants ages 80-84 from across the country in the Womens 50 yd freestyle at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Both are the only Minnesotans in their races.

On Friday, July 10 at 7:00 pm. there will be a Parade of Athletes at CHS Field in Saint Paul. Minnesota athletes, including those from Mill City Commons, will celebrate their accomplishments with participating athletes from all over the country. All athletes will walk with their state in the Parade of Athletes. The program will also feature entertainment by the Wright Bros. Band.

Co-chairing Mill City Commons participation are MCC members Peggy Lucas (Downtown East) and Ellie Hands (Marcy Holmes).  “In addition to encouraging our two Penny’s, we’ve recruited 40 Mill City Commons members and friends who will join other Twin Cities volunteers to help with Athlete Registration at the Minneapolis Convention Center”, said Ellie Hands.  “Volunteering and giving back to the community where we live is a key value of Mill City Commons,” she added. 

Opened and staffed in 2008, Mill City Commons is a welcoming and inclusive neighborhood “village” for 175 residents ages 55+.  Members build community by bringing together neighbors on both sides of the downtown Mississippi Riverfront District who connect with each other through a rich calendar of events. Information on Mill City Commons is available at http://www.millcitycommons.org/ or 612.455.3329.