Faculty emeritus brings home silver
Posted August 11, 2009
Webb School faculty emeritus Cory Hartbarger returned from California this week with silver around his neck.
“I got that (medal) for being the second best shot putter over 80 in the United States,” he said Tuesday during a short visit to The Webb School campus.
The retired Webb School athletic director (1963-1971) competed in the 80- to 84-year-old division at the Summer National Senior Games held Aug. 1-15 at Stanford University in Palo Alto. His throw of 10.05 meters earned him a shiny silver medal.
“The Bible always said pride is a sin, but I have to be proud,” Hartbarger commented. He added that at age 82, the entire experience had left him “exhausted.”
While he competed in track and field during his college years at Northern Michigan, it wasn’t until recent years that Hartbarger’s love of competition was rekindled.
“Until the year before last (2007), I had not picked up an implement, as they call them, in 52 years,” he said.
Earlier this summer the Shelbyville resident broke state records in the javelin throw and shot put at the Tennessee Senior Olympics held in Williamson County. His attempts at the national competition fell shy of his state accomplishments, but were still good enough to win the Virginia native silver in the shot put.
“My throw was three inches shorter than what I threw at the state contest,” Hartbarger said of his winning shot put. “The guy that beat me (in nationals) won by nine inches.”
In addition to shot put, Hartbarger competed in the javelin and discus at the National Senior Games.
“I came in 11th place in the discus,” he said. “We threw in the rain and on my third throw it fell out of my hand.”
He had similar luck in the javelin throw, when he lost his balance after a release and fouled by crossing the boundary line.
Hartbarger said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was grateful for all the moral and financial support he received from local friends, businesses and family. He said he hopes to qualify and compete at the next National Senior Games set for the summer of 2011 in Houston, Texas, and again in 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I just hope to live that long,” he added with a laugh.
