Raleigh – A total of 31 Senior Games athletes and SilverArts artists from Cherokee and Clay counties headed to the capital for the N.C. Senior Games State Finals.
The first half of the events wrapped up Sept. 20, with the second half taking place in late September and early October. The local athletes joined a record number of athletes of more than 3,400 at the finals.
A total of 13 local artists entered 18 works in 13 categories, while 18 athletes entered 38 events. Nine of the 18 athletes are first-time competitors, with five already earning medals with two still set to compete.
Local participants have already brought home 39 medals so far.
Arts medalists
Anne Hastie earned a gold medal in basket weaving, while Chris Faries earned silver in the same category.
Terence Faries earned a silver medal in wood carving. John Gibney earned bronze in jewelry, while Steve Reidel earned bronze in stained glass.
Sports medalists
Numerous athletes earned medals in the track & field events.
Terence Faries earned silver in the 200-meter dash and bronze in the 100m dash. Michele Preisser earned silver medals in the 400m run, 800m run and 1,500m run.
In the 1,500m power walk, Ruth Harrell and Michele Preisser earned gold medals, while Bart Harrison and Gary Preisser earned silver medals.
In the 5-kilometer power walk, Ruth Harrell and Michele Preisser earned gold medals, while Bart Harrison and Gary Preisser earned silver medals.
In the 10K road race, Michele Preisser and Vann Estes earned silver medals.
Terence Faries brought home two more medals in field events. He earned gold medals in both standing and running long jump.
In discus, Lucy Lovins earned silver and Gary Preisser earned bronze.
In the swimming events, Art Hubbard, Cathy McNeely and Jan Findley earned medals.
McNeely earned gold in the 50-yard freestyle, silver in 50-yard breaststroke and silver in the 100-yard individual medley. Findley earned bronze in the 50-yard breaststroke.
Hubbard earned silver in the 50-yard breaststroke, gold in 100-yard breaststroke, gold in 200-yard breaststroke, silver in 50-yard backstroke, silver in 100-yard backstroke and silver in 200-yard backstroke.
In other events, Jon Jordan earned gold in badminton, Jerry Leslie earned silver in table tennis and Gary Preisser earned bronze in football throw.
In softball throw, bronze medals were earned by both Lucy Lovins and Gary Preisser.