To all our supporters, athletes, coaches, sponsors, and volunteers,
We continue our 35th Anniversary year and we are on a roll. The Virginia Commonwealth Games are upon us, and we are preparing for an exciting “Main Games Weekend” at Liberty University July 19th – 21st. In the meantime, many of our events will start as early as this weekend and all over the state of Virginia. May 31 to June 2nd will feature our swimming competition at Liberty University’s Natatorium. June 8th and 9th is a huge weekend with Youth Baseball (8U – 13U) at fields in Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem & Botetourt. Our Olympic and Sprint Triathlons with Relay and Aquabike at the Jamestown Beach Event Park in historic Williamsburg, VA. June 8th, The Fleet Feet Big Run 5K, The Big Fun Run & The Little Run at Fallon Park in Roanoke. June 10th - 14th is the Basketball Skills Challenge presented by Twin Hoops at William Fleming H.S. in Roanoke. Spikeball is back June 14th – 16th at Glover Park in Glen Allen. We round out June events with the newly added Floor Hockey at Desmond Doss Gym in Lynchburg on June 16th.
We have something for everyone and for all ages. The time to register is NOW! Many of our age groups are filing up and some events will sell out. The best way is to click here and get registered!
In keeping with our theme of “something for all ages,” enjoy our featured article on our “Athlete Spotlight.” ClaraLee Ripley has been competing in our games since 1995 and shares her experiences in competition and staying active.
As always, we appreciate your support and participation. I look forward to seeing you all out there!
Competitors in a certain age group in July’s Commonwealth Games will have a youngster to compete with this year. “Youngster” being a relative term, of course.
Clara Lee Ripley will turn 85 before the Games kick off, so she is now in the 85-89 age bracket.
“I’ve been promoted to the next age group so I’m the youngster now,” Clara Lee said.
Not that she needs any advantages to do well in the Games, Ripley has amassed quite a haul of medals in the 30 years she has been a regular competitor in the Commonwealth Games and the Virginia Senior Games.
“I’ve won a total of 225 medals in the Commonwealth Games and Senior Games in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter dashes, the long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus,” she said.
Those are the events she will compete in again this year, but they are just a sample of her athletic prowess. Ripley competed in 18 different sports along the way, starting with ping pong in 1995 where she won her first bronze medal.
A physical education teacher and coach, during her 32-year career, she was at G.W.H.S. in Danville for 29 years and before that, 3 years at E.C. Glass in Lynchburg. Following that, she founded the G.W.H.S. girls’ Tennis team. (Read More)
