Photo by Asia Morris

Fifteen seniors from the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony took home the gold on Saturday as the champions of the 2014 EngAGE Senior Olympics. This was also the group’s first time competing.

The seniors, aged 57 to 83, beat the other 24 teams at the event held at Cerritos Park East in Cerritos.

The Long Beach team scored the most gold medals and brought home the Senior Olympics Trophy, said Long Beach Senior Arts Colony program manager Helene Weinberg.

“The city of Long Beach has another reason to be proud as our home team will carry the Championship Title until next year’s 2015 Senior Olympics,” she said.

Activities included shooting basketball hoops, kicking to a target, ring tossing, running races, walking races and a performance competition. Weinberg said the 12-member Colony Chorus received a gold medal for its rendition of “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green.

Solo performer Jacqueline Crist-Franzen, who sang “Climb Every Mountain,” also earned a standing ovation and gold medal.

Team member Veronica Bryant was also celebrated for shooting three out of three basketballs into the hoops for the free throw event, Weinberg said.

Ethel Gross, who competed in the over 80 years old woman’s speed walking competition said she was proud to win a bronze medal.

“If I had longer legs, I would have won first place,” she told Weinberg.