BALTIMORE – Former Coppin State athletics staff member Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson will compete in the 40th annual National Veterans Golden Age Games in Detroit, Michigan from July 10-14.
Henderson will compete in the 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, shotput, javelin and shuffleboard events.
"I am looking forward to competing and representing Coppin State," Henderson said. "I enjoy participating in these types of events because it keeps my spirit young and in shape."
Henderson shined in last year's event in Omaha. He won a pair of gold medals in the 100-meter dash and in horseshoes. His winning time in the 100-meter dash was 14.97 seconds. Henderson captured the horseshoe competition after winning five straight games.
In addition to the Golden Age Games, Henderson will also participate in the Maryland Senior Olympics on August 12 and 13. The events he will be participating are men's track and field events in his age group. This year's competition will be held at Howard County Community College.
Even though Henderson was born in Gainesville, Florida and raised in New York, Baltimore has been his home since 1969 when he attended school here. Henderson spent time in the Army where he participated in football, boxing and track.
Henderson is no stranger to these types of competitions. He has competed in the annual Maryland Senior Olympics for three consecutive years at the old Eastern High School on East 33rd street in Baltimore.
"I've always ran track off and on my whole life," Henderson said. "I've always ran in different meets around the country. I start running sub-masters and then all the way up. I had to take a break for a while but I started back up again. I used to run and practice with the track team all the time and I got back into running competitively again."
The National Veterans Golden Age Games is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors' competition program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. The VA Challenges and encourages senior Veterans to be proactive in embracing a healthier lifestyle.
The games are open to Veterans, ages 55 or older, who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
