Senior athlete wins five more medals

Rita Plank has done it again. Fives times again, to be exact.

Plank, 65, of Carson City competed in the Magic Valley Senior Games in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday and collected five silver medals.

The medals are in addition to six she won in the state of Washington at the Senior Games and Senior Olympics.

"The little bugger is doing well," said Ray Tibeau, her friend in Sumner, Wash. "This is the last competition this year for her and me."

Plank won medals in the discus, javelin, shot-put, softball throw and the bowling pin throw.

"The bowling pin throw went over big," Plank said. "Everyone enjoyed doing it. It was a fun competition.

"You have to throw it in a straight line, or they will deduct inches from your measurement."

Tibeau won a gold, silver and bronze medal in the games.

"I got a silver in the discus. It was a personal best for me. A gold in the bowling pin throw and bronze in the baseball throw.

Many of the women Plank competed against were retired physical education teachers. The situation was the same for Tibeau.

"I'm up against the big boys all the time," he said. "I don't care. I'll take them on."

Tibeau said he and his son, Ray Tibeau Jr., were the only father-son team competing. Tibeau is 69; his son is 50.

"He won medals in baseball and shot-put, both silver, I think," the elder Tibeau said.

Plank will return to Carson City on Sept. 8. Tibeau said they've had enough competition for one year, but plan to stay in training for next year.

"It doesn't make a difference on the state I compete in, it's still the same competition, and I will try to do the best I can. I think our next competition will be in Yuma, Ariz., in February.

"I'm looking forward to coming home and staying for a while," Plank said. "I can visit my daughter Cheryl Payne and granddaughter, Sarah Wilke."

Rita is the widow of Carson City Supervisor Jon Plank, who died of complications of pneumonia Dec. 27, 2002.

Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.