Onodera-Leonard wins gold

Huntington Beach’s Sumi Onodera-Leonard won a gold medal Thursday

in track and field for women ages 70-74 at last weekend’s 1999 National

Senior Games, also known as the Senior Olympics.

Onodera-Leonard ran a 3:33.63 to win the 800-meter dash to claim the goal

in the event.

Onodera-Leonard, 73, was one of nearly 12,000 of the nation’s top senior

athletes competing in the year’s largest sports competition in the world,

which is taking place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex near

Orlando, Fla.

Athletes are competing in 18 sports, including three-on-three basketball,

track and field, swimming, and the triathlon.

Competition began on Oct. 19 and ends today, with more than 8,000 medals

and ribbons to be awarded.

Highlights of the 10-day event included the Celebration of Athletes, the

parade of state contingents, lighting of the torch at the Citrus Bowl in

Orlando, and the awarding of the National Senior Games/Pfizer Life’s Work

Award.

The National Senior Games Association is the leading organization

representing the sports, fitness, and health interests for today’s

seniors. NSGA says its mission is to be the leader in promoting healthy

lifestyles for seniors through proper education, fitness, sports, and

research.

Founded in 1985, the NSGA is the national organizing body for the

biennial Summer and Winter National Senior Games.