Former Montana track coach throwing the jav in his 80s
MIRL GRATTON, an 81-year-old retired coach, throws the javelin in the Senior Olympic competition at Ronan High School. Gratton, was a track and field coach for over 40 years, and still actively competes in various events in the sport. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
Former track and field coach Mirl Gratton is still competing in the sport he coached for over 40 years.
Gratton, a competitor in the Senior Olympics javelin throw, coached at Power, Seeley Lake, Hellgate, and coached an Oregon Class 4A state championship team in Portland.
Since he retired in 1997, he has competed in Montana and Alaska for 20 years and now holds five meet records from the javelin throwing competition.
“My technique has gotten better but my muscle twitch has just gone downhill,” the 81 year old admitted. “I’ve competed in the Senior Olympics for times.”
A resident of North Mexico City, he also has children that competed in the Senior Olympics in Missoula and Moscow, Idaho.
Gratton, a cancer survivor, said he is “doing fine” after his surgery for bladder cancer.
“My son won his age group in all four races in bicycle after his double bi-pass surgery,” Gratton said. “My daughter is also a kidney donor and cancer survivor.”
Brian Dinsmore participated in 23 events and he did so many because he wanted to get his money’s worth coming to Polson.
Dinsmore participated in the golf out, the driving competition, the 18-holes, bowling, both race and walk in the 1500 and 5000-meter race, the 5K run, the 50 breast and 50 freestyle, and in track did everything but the hurdles and pole vault, and participated in bowling.
“The reason I do that many events is that I make a trip of it when I come here,” Dinsmore said. “I come down early and I see the sights in the area. I move around to different cities and get to see some culture and stuff. The Senior Olympics is really a good way to visit towns. Instead of doing one event, I went to as many as I could and I think I went way overboard.”
Dinsmore said he has the desire to train.
“I don’t know if everyone has the will to win,” Dinsmore said. “It’s better if you have the will to train and take the time for each of these events. I am just trying not to get hurt. Some of these events are short and I don’t train or do any prepping for them.”
Dinsmore said he felt the event was “very organized.”
“I would like to thank Polson, Ronan and Pablo for hosting this event,” Dinsmore said. “It’s the volunteers that are helping make this event go smoothly. I really appreciate what they were able to do.”