Andrews, Apple state senior track champions

Steve Andrews and Joe Apple, both of Kalispell, turned in outstanding performances in the track and field competition at the Montana Senior Olympics in Great Falls last week.

Andrews, 66, smashed the 65-69 age-group record for the 400 with his time of 1:14.86. That busted the old standard of 1:19.74.

"I finished pretty strong," Andrews said of the 400.

"I felt pretty good most of the race."

Andrews said he ran the 400 with a slight hamstring pull, but it failed to slow him down.

"I was going for 1:18.0," he said.

"I guess maybe the adrenalin (helped me run faster). That's what I was going over there for (to break the record)."

Andrews trained for the competition in Great Falls for a year. Most of his workouts were near his home by Lake Blaine, but he also did some at Glacier High School's track "to run the corners and check my times."

Andrews also won the 100- and 200-meter dashes for his age group.

Apple, 61, earned gold medals in the high jump, triple jump and long jump. He collected a silver medal in the pole vault and a bronze medal in the long jump.

Apple also competed in the discus, shot put and javelin, but did not medal in those events.