Nebraska Senior Games make emphatic return to Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - The Nebraska Senior Games began in Kearney for a 33rd year Thursday after starting up in the city in 1989. Track and field events were hosted at Horizon Middle School with athletes from Nebraska and beyond traveling to participate.

Several area senior athletes competed and won medals. Kearney’s James Heineman cleared 4-4″ in the high jump to win a gold medal in the 60-65 age bracket.

“Of course I like winning gold and being here from the hometown, it’s good,” Heineman said. “I love coming out here and competing in the high jump and the sprints. Being here from Kearney is great to compete.”

There were multiple track events that also took place Thursday. Polk’s Ann Garey took home the gold medal in the women’s 50-meter dash for the 65-69 age group with a time of 9.04 seconds. Garey also placed first in the 100-meter dash with a 17.6 second finish.

“Not until I turned 61 did I decide to change things and started running,” Garey said. “To me, it’s a lot of fun and I enjoy the challenge.”

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