BY SAPNA PATHAK

*** Croak loves trash-talk.

No, you won’t hear the Concord resident egging his opponents on, but you will see him quiet their jovial taunts with first-place finishes and record-setting performances.

On Sunday, Aug. 12, Croak competed in the 20th annual Granite State Senior Games, taking the track at Manchester’s Livingston Park to run the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash.

The 72-year-old won gold in each event in the men’s 70- to 74-year-old age division. On Sunday, Aug. 5, Croak and tennis partner Roger Roy of Candia won the gold medal in the men’s doubles tennis tournament, beating Hooksett’s Ernie Greensberg and Saul Levinson.

“Last year they beat the devil out of us,” said Croak with a laugh. “But this time we got sweet revenge, it was great to be able to get on their cases like they had done to us last year. I love having people tease and joke around with me before a race or something, I’ve got a few plaques at home to prove them wrong.”

Croak began running at 35, wanting to try something new to stay in shape. His training soon led him to participate in the senior games, a nine-day competition with 16 events for athletes over 50. Picking up his first tennis racket three years ago, Croak’s friendship with Roy introduced him to a new rival in Greensberg.

Croak, who holds various state senior-games records, recalled his favorite running moments occurring in Korea and at a national competition.

“I was visiting my daughter in Korea once and the (Marine) base was holding a Thanksgiving Day race,” he said. “The Marines were joking about how they’d have to run with the ‘old guy’ … I’ve got the first-place plaque at home.”

“Another time I was in a national race and the guy next to me looked at my legs, which are considerably bow-legged,” he continued. “And said ‘Hey fella, if your legs were a little straighter, you’d be able to go a little faster.’ I told I’d wait for him at the finish line … and I did.”