Pictured are MVP award winners: Rodney Hill (Buffalo Senior Center), Ann Riffee (Hometown Senior Center) and Terry Ingles (John Henson Senior Center). The three will be Putnam Aging guests to participate in the state wide Senior Olympics held at Potomac State in Keyser next year.

The Putnam Aging Program introduced the Senior Games to Putnam County in 2017. Covid concerns caused “The Games” to be placed on hold in 2020 and 2021.

On Thursday, July 21, seniors from Putnam’s three Senior Centers gathered at Hurricane City Park to compete in football throw acuracy, washer toss, corn hole, disc golf, archery, baseball throw, softball throw, ladder ball, 20-yard dash, and lawn dart. In addition to these physical competitions, the seniors went head-to-head in spelling bee and bingo competition.

The games were arranged such that participants competed on behalf of the Buffalo, Hometown and Hurricane Senior Centers. Participants scored points which were tallied to win both individual awards and awards for their center. Following lunch provided provided by Putnam Aging, there was an awards ceremony at which the high point total competitor of each Center received an MVP Award. The award earns the winners a place at the 2023 West Virginia Senior Olympics as guests of Putnam Aging.

The City of Hurricane provided the use of the park and assisted in setting up the event. Misting fans and water were supplied for all.

The Games are a condensed version of the Mountain State Senior Olympics which originated at Potomac State College in the Eastern Panhandle in 2002.