Courtesy of Alex Burr
Posted Thursday, June 12, 2025 10:32 am
Susan Morée Las Cruces Bulletin
Alex Burr is 93 years young but for him age is just a number.
Burr is competing in the 2025 New Mexico Senior Olympics in the power walking competition next week. He is one of nearly 200 people who are 50 or older who registered to participate in one of 26 different sports to be held at various locations around Las Cruces from June 18-22.
The games, now called the Ernesto Ramos State Summer Games to honor the founder, will draw registrants from all over New Mexico and other states to compete. Cecilia Acosta, executive director, said this year is not a qualifying year for the national level games, so some people will come out to warm up and keep active.
This year will be the first time the state games have held an opening ceremony since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Acosta said. Also, cities around New Mexico bid to play host to the games for four years and this is Las Cruces’ fourth year to host. While Las Cruces might bid and win to play host again for another four-year stint, this could be the city’s last time to host the games for at least another four years.
Acosta said New Mexico Senior Olympics officials will announce the new host city by the end of the month.
For Burr, the games are a chance to compete.
“It gives me a goal to keep going,” Burr said.
Another Las Cruces competitor, Eugene Pettes, who is 82, has been participating in the Senior Olympics for around 30 years and he is competing in six track and field categories.
He will be competing in the 200 meter, the 100 meter and the 50 meter events, as well as the triple jump, the high jump and the standing long jump.
The Las Cruces native said he started running track in high school and that he continued to run after he graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1962.
Pettes said the games are something to look forward to.
“The best part is just to be able to compete,” Pettes said.
Acosta said it’s a nice way to give attention to seniors.
“They do so much for the kids and the grandkids. It’s time for them to be in the spotlight,” Acosta said.
Burr said there is no secret to how a person can live to be 93 and still be in good enough shape to compete in a Senior Olympic sport.
“There isn’t any [secret]. I go and do something,” he said.
Burr said he played basketball in high school but he was not overly athletic.
For those who are over 50 and don’t feel ready for Olympic-level competition, the state games include recreational events for those who want to come out for the social aspects of playing a sport. Acosta said some of those include things such as frisbee and air gun. There are also exhibition events, such as power lifting and tai chi.
“We’re trying to access the interest in those two sports,” Acosta said.
She said the Senior Olympics takes heat exhaustion seriously. She said most outdoor events take place in the very early morning before the heat begins and most of the events in the later part of the day are scheduled for indoors.
Acosta said the Senior Olympics will also host a health fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.
Results from events will be posted at the convention center and on the organization’s website. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be given out and the event relies on about 150 volunteers.
“We appreciate the volunteers. It’s important to have enough support to do 26 different sports,” Acosta said.
For more info: www.nmseniorolympics.org
Keywords
New Mexico Senior Olympics