DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705030150

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DORIS TOWNSLEY, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  127 lines

CITY SENIORS GO FOR MEDALS IN GOLDEN OLYMPIC GAMES

Dixie Davies eyes the basketball hoop, aims the ball and shoots expertly.

Davies, 61, is a member of the Portsmouth Area Golden Olympians. The PAGO group includes about 100 Portsmouth senior citizens, several of whom can be found at Joseph E. Parker Recreation Center on Monday mornings, gearing up for the Golden Olympics. The event will be held during May and June at the local, state and national levels.

Davies is president of PAGO, and a veteran of the Golden Olympic Games. ``This will be my third year,'' she said. ``I've gone two years, and I've won a medal in every event I've been in. I have never walked away medal-less.''

Davies has won a total of 21 medals, including a gold medal for riflery the first year she competed in the event.

``I had never shot a rifle in my life, and I sat there and won a gold medal,'' she said. ``I couldn't believe it. I could not believe it.''

This year, Davies and her husband, Ed, 66, both plan to compete in local and statewide events.

The local events will be held Monday through Saturday, with most events taking place at Churchland High School on May 10.

The statewide Golden Olympics will be held at the College of William and Mary from May 28 to June 1.

The national events are scheduled for May 19-29, in Tucson, Ariz.

Pat Alvino, 77, plans to participate in the Golden Olympics this year. Alvino, who has had two knee implants, will be entering several events at the local games, including the race walk, bowling, and the breaststroke.

``I don't do anything strenuous on the knees, like tennis and racquet ball,'' he said. ``I had to stop doing that, but I was doing those things until two years ago.''

After participating in the local games, Alvino will be making his first trip to the nationals.

Because the dates of the state and national events overlap this year, Alvino said that he will probably not make it back in time to participate in the state games.

Joining Alvino at the nationals will be Mike Sedlacko, an 80-year-old PAGO member. Sedlacko, who has been competing in the national events since 1991, said he plans to concentrate on the bicycling event this year.

``I think I have enough stamina to push that bike those three miles,'' he said. ``If I go the distance, I will have completed what I thought my challenge was.''

Sedlacko also hopes to participate in the bowling and horseshoe competitions, despite the fact that he recently injured his hand. Even if he's unable to participate in these events, Sedlacko said, he is looking forward to the nationals. ``Just being there excites me.''

Espa Sumner, a PAGO newcomer, is participating in the local Golden Olympics for the first time this year.

Sumner, 65, has been practicing for the Frisbee throw, basketball free throw, and softball hit and throw competitions. ``I practice every time I can,'' she said. ``The Frisbee is the hardest thing, although you wouldn't think it would be.''

Margie Conner, recreation program specialist for the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and General services, helps coordinate PAGO events, and helped establish the local games as an annual event.

About 250 people have registered for the local games, but, she said, she'd like to see more of the city's senior citizens join the group and participate in the games.

``Whether you're an experienced athlete, or you're just a novice, it doesn't make any difference,'' she said. ``There is something for everyone.'' Dixie Davies eyes the basketball hoop, aims the ball and shoots expertly.

Davies, 61, is a member of the Portsmouth Area Golden Olympians. The PAGO group includes about 100 Portsmouth senior citizens, several of whom can be found at Joseph E. Parker Recreation Center on Monday mornings, gearing up for the Golden Olympics. The event will be held during May and June at the local, state and national levels.

Davies is president of PAGO, and a veteran of the Golden Olympic Games. ``This will be my third year,'' she said. ``I've gone two years, and I've won a medal in every event I've been in. I have never walked away medal-less.''

Davies has won a total of 21 medals, including a gold medal for riflery the first year she competed in the event.

``I had never shot a rifle in my life, and I sat there and won a gold medal,'' she said. ``I couldn't believe it. I could not believe it.''

This year, Davies and her husband, Ed, 66, both plan to compete in local and statewide events.

The local events will be held Monday through Saturday, with most events taking place at Churchland High School on Saturday.

The statewide Golden Olympics will be held in Williamsburg at the College of William and Mary from May 28 to June 1.

The national events are scheduled to begin May 19 in Tucson, Ariz.

Pat Alvino, 77, plans to participate in the Golden Olympics this year. Alvino, who has had two knee implants, will be entering several events at the local games, including the race walk, bowling, and the breaststroke.

``I don't do anything strenuous on the knees, like tennis and racquet ball,'' he said. ``I had to stop doing that, but I was doing those things until two years ago.''

After participating in the local games, Alvino will be making his first trip to the nationals.

Because the dates of the state and national events overlap this year, Alvino said that he will probably not make it back in time to participate in the state games.

Joining Alvino at the nationals will be Mike Sedlacko, an 80-year-old PAGO member. Sedlacko, who has been competing in the national events since 1991, said he plans to concentrate on the bicycling event this year.

``I think I have enough stamina to push that bike those three miles,'' he said. ``If I go the distance, I will have completed what I thought my challenge was.''

Sedlacko also hopes to participate in the bowling and horseshoe competitions, despite the fact that he recently injured his hand. Even if he's unable to participate in these events, Sedlacko said, he is looking forward to the nationals. ``Just being there excites me.''

Espa Sumner, a PAGO newcomer, is participating in the local Golden Olympics for the first time this year.

Sumner, 65, has been practicing for the Frisbee throw, basketball free throw, and softball hit and throw competitions. ``I practice every time I can,'' she said. ``The Frisbee is the hardest thing, although you wouldn't think it would be.''

Margie Conner, recreation program specialist for the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and General services, helps coordinate PAGO events, and helped establish the local games as an annual event.

About 250 people have registered for the local games, but, she said, she'd like to see more of the city's senior citizens join the group and participate in the games.

``Whether you're an experienced athlete, or you're just a novice, it doesn't make any difference,'' she said. ``There is something for everyone.'' MEMO: For more information about the Portsmouth Area Golden Olympians,

call Margie Conner at 398-3777. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by VICKI CRONIS

Harry Stein, 69, watches as other PAGO members practice shooting

baskets in preparation for the Golden Olympic Games. The statewide

event will be held May 28 to June 1.

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