Friends, fun, medals: That’s Senior Games

ASHEBORO — Ronnie McArthur didn’t realize he was an athlete until he was in middle school and lost a couple of events.

It was during field day in Randleman Middle School and McArthur came in second in the 100-yard dash and long jump to Eddie Quick, who was three years older and physically more developed.

“I found out I was a pretty good runner and jumper,” McArthur said recently. 

By the time he entered Randleman High School, he was thoroughly ensconced in sports, including football and track. McArthur had played Senior Little League baseball previously.

In high school track, he would enter the limit of four events: the 100 and 220 sprints and 880 run as well as the long jump. But the 880 was his best event, he said. In fact, McArthur missed out on the state finals in the 880 by 4-hundredths of a second for a medal.

After high school, McArthur joined the Air Force, where he ran in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) meets. Once he ran against Dave Wottle, who later won the 1972 Olympic gold medal in the 800 meters. “He beat me by 10 meters. I felt good about it,” McArthur said.

During his years as a career airman, McArthur ran in two marathons, finishing in a time of 2:23 in 1974 and 2:25 in 1983. After leaving the military in 1990, he worked for the US Postal Service at Sophia until 2009, when he retired. 

“When I retired, I wanted to get back into running,” McArthur said. But a foot injury put a stop to his distance running. However, he found that sprints, which require running on the toes rather than the heels, didn’t hurt.

“I found out about Senior Games in 2014 or 2015,” he said. “I started participating. I’ve always been competitive participating in sports.”

Now 78, he’s still running sprints in Randolph County Senior Games, where he annually qualifies to compete in the State Games.

That competitive nature has led McArthur to playing senior softball with a team called the Randleman Classics. He’s played most of his career in the outfield because of his speed and even served as a courtesy runner on the basepaths.

McArthur said that as far as Senior Games he was “doing well winning medals but not gold.” So he started working out at the gym and soon was winning races. 

“I was determined to make myself better,” he explained. “You set a goal and then have the motivation and willpower to make it happen.”

He said he’s competed every year in Senior Games except for once when he was injured and two COVID years when the events were cancelled. During that time at State Senior Games, McArthur has won seven gold medals, eight silver and two bronze. He’s set state age group records in the 50-meter dash four times, twice breaking his own record.

In the eight years he’s competed at the local and state levels, McArthur has always qualified for the National Senior Games. But those locations were too far away.

Then in 2023 he learned that the National Senior Games would be held in Pittsburgh. He told his wife Cindy that Pittsburgh was close enough to drive and he registered for the 50-, 100- and 200-meter sprints.

“There were 63 registered for the 50-meters and only eight lanes,” he said. So there were eight heat races with the top eight times qualifying for the finals. He qualified fifth for the finals, which was his goal.

“I was the only runner not using starting blocks,” McArthur said, putting him at a disadvantage. Add to that the fact that he had a poor start. 

But he soon was catching the field and surged to the finish line to come in third, good enough for a bronze medal.

“My goal was to make the finals and to actually medal. … That was a highlight of my life at that time.”

Despite his competitive nature, McArthur said, “I always want to shake the winner’s hand to show respect. I want to thank God for giving me the ability to accomplish the goals in my life, whether it be in sports or any other endeavor I may pursue.

“I’m always so very thankful for the abundant support that I get from my lovely wife Cindy.”

McArthur encourages anyone eligible for Senior Games to give it a try.

“For all sports-minded people at the midpoint age of life, Senior Games is something you might consider taking up to show yourself and others you still have the ability to do well in sports,” he said. “You may surprise yourself how well you can do against others your age, if you push yourself enough to win a medal. You’ll also be very pleased at how well you’ve conditioned yourself.

“And (there’s) also the wonderful fellowship with other competitors. They may become friends for the rest of your life.

“I will continue to participate as long as my body allows in Senior Games competition.”

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The events of the 2026 Randolph County Senior Games will take place March 9 through April 23. 

Adults ages 50 and up are invited to participate in a wide variety of athletic events, as well as SilverArts, a program highlighting the talents of local artisans and craftspeople. 

While some participants enjoy the spirit of competition, most take part to have fun, learn something new, and make new friends. The Senior Games truly offer “Something for the Artist and Athlete in Everyone.”

The Randolph County Senior Games thanks its Gold Sponsors: Modern Toyota, Randolph Senior Adults Association, and HealthTeam Advantage. Their generous support, along with that of all sponsors, makes the 2026 Games possible. 

The Randolph County Senior Games are sanctioned by North Carolina Senior Games, Inc., which is sponsored statewide by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services.

For more information,  contact Kelli King at 336-626-1240 ext. 5 or email kking@ci.asheboro.nc.us.