Outstanding Athlete at Senior Games

 

October 31, 2018

Courtesy photo

Leann Fredrickson

Ipswich native, Leann Fredrickson of Aberdeen was presented with the Outstanding "Over 80" Athlete Award at the 35th Annual South Dakota Senior Games "Outstanding Athlete & Hall of Fame Awards Banquet" in Sioux Falls in September.

This award was based on her accomplishments during the 2016 South Dakota Senior Games held in Aberdeen. She participated in 14 different events and received 14 gold medals.

Her medals were from the following Track and Field Events: 50 meter Race, 400 meter Race Walk, 800 meter Race Walk, 1500 meter Race Walk, Standing Broad Jump. Running Broad Jump. Triple Broad Jump, Shot Put, Softball Throw. Other events: Bean Bag Throw, Shuffle Board (Singles and Doubles) Basketball Free Throws, and Field Goals.

This 2016 award should have been awarded to Leann at the 2017 Senior Games Banquet but Leann and her husband, Dale were on a tour of the British Isles. Leann grew up south of Ipswich in the Powell Community with Welsh Heritage. Her dream of visiting Wales was finally fulfilled.

Leann has been participating in the South Dakota Senior Games for 25 years, being awarded the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year in 2007. She is the only Aberdeen woman to ever receive these awards at the South Dakota Senior Games.

Dale has been active in the games too. He decided to retire from playing softball when he turned 80 in 2014. This year he participated in Basketball Field Goals and Free Throws, Shot Put, Bean Bag and 8 Ball Pool. Leann came home with 11 Gold and 1 Silver. Not bad for a lady of 82!

Dale and Leann graduated from Ipswich in 1954. Dale was on the 1952 Ipswich Tiger's Basketball Team that won the "South Dakota State B Championship. She was there in Sioux Falls to cheer him on. She said, "No one could dribble that basketball like Dale."

The South Dakota Senior Games in 2019 will be held in Watertown.

 

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