Two neighbors at Greenspring retirement community brought home medals in archery from the National Senior Games held last week. The two, Jack Cason, 80, and Charlie Edwards, 94, participated in the compound release archery competition on July 23-24. Photo contributed
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Neighbors Jack Cason and Charlie Edwards competed in archery at the National Senior Games in Cleveland last week. Both Cason, 80, and Edwards, 94, live at Greenspring retirement community in Springfield and competed in the compound release archery competition on July 23-24. Cason brought home the gold medal and Edwards was awarded the bronze medal in their respective age categories. The two qualified for the National Senior Games in May 2012 after receiving gold medals in their respective age groups at the Virginia Senior Games.
Cason is no stranger to the National Senior Games; the first time he qualified, he received a bronze medal at the 2005 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, Pa. After missing the 2007 games, Cason returned to the National Senior Games in 2009 to compete in San Francisco, Calif., where he earned a silver medal. In 2011, Cason earned a gold medal at the National Senior Games in Houston, Texas, where he received the highest score among all males aged 74-79 in the compound release archery competition. This year, Cason returned to Greenspring with another gold medal in hand.
For Edwards, this was his first trip to the National Senior Games. He first picked up a bow and arrow in December 2011 after Cason encouraged him to join the Greenspring Archers club at the community. Just six months later, Edwards earned a gold medal at the Virginia Senior Games. Since then, Cason has been working with him on improving his technical form and choosing the right equipment in preparation for the National Senior Games. At age 94, Edwards was the most senior archer at the competition this year and returned home with a bronze medal.