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Senior athlete raises the bar for competitors in her age group

The 72-year-old competes in shot put and discus but her specialty is high jump

ATHENS, Tenn. — A senior athlete is raising the bar for competitors in her age group.

Marcia Long from Sweetwater plans to win the high jump at districts and state and maybe even nationals.

Top athletes will gather in Gatlinburg October 4 to 9 for the Tennessee Senior Olympics East Tennessee District event. 

People over 50 will go for the Gold. 

Before she works on her track and field events Marcia Long double knots the laces on her cleats, checks the flower in her hair, and reviews her high jump technique. 

"Don't look at the bar. Look up," she said. "I don't have to think about it. I just run, flip backwards over the bar, and go yeah I did it." 

The practice set-up at McMinn County High School features real mats and the equipment for competition. 

It's a lot better than where she usually practices at her home in Sweetwater.

"I just blow up queen size air mattresses. Tie four of them together. My husband made me bars on the side.  Put a rope across and practice in my driveway," she said. 

Credit: WBIR
Marcia Long practices the high jump at McMinn County High School

This summer, the 72-year-old competed in the National Senior Games in New Mexico. She finished 7th in the country in her age group in high jump. She also competes in discus and shot put. 

Credit: WBIR
Marica Long practices her discus throw
Credit: WBIR
This stylish Senior Olympian wears a flower in her hair and purple polish on her nails

But she wasn't always an athlete. 

"The only thing I could do was run. I mean, anybody can run," she said. 

Then at age 50 she began competing in track and field events. 

Her next competition starts October 4 in Gatlinburg: the Tennessee Senior Olympics East Tennessee Districts. The top four finishers will go to the state games in Franklin. 

"I always win the high jump. I'm number one in the state of Tennessee," she said. 

The top finishers at state will go to the 2021 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale where Marcia hopes to see some old friends.

We've been competing together. Most of us are the same age and we've been together for 20 years. And we just have a family reunion and hug each other and whoever wins wins we're all happy," she said.

"Whoever wins? It will probably be that high jumper with the bright shoes and the big smile.

Marcia won't have a lot of time to practice because she's going to Europe to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, Bill.

Marcia shared her worst high-jump wipe-out memory. 

The Tennessee Senior Olympics East Tennessee District is October 4 to 9 in Gatlinburg.

The next National Senior Games is set for 2021 in Fort Lauderdale.

The Tennessee Senior Olympics is looking for athletes, age 50 and over, to compete in the Southeast District in Gatlinburg. The deadline to enter is Sept. 6, 2019. To learn more visit tnseniorolympics.com or email eastdistricttnseniorolympics@gmail.com. Sept. 4, 2019-4pm.

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