At 32, American track and field Olympian Monique Henderson isn’t quite eligible to participate in what’s called one of the largest sporting events in the state. But the San Diego resident is still a draw in her own right, and she’s ready to help kick off a competition for scores of those who are. Sept. 11 marks the start of the San Diego Senior Games, reportedly the largest older-adult sporting event in California. More than 1,200 athletes from the region, men and women over 50, will be participating at Casa Manana retirement community, 849 Coast Blvd. in La Jolla, in more than 25 events, such as basketball, track and field, swimming, tennis, soccer and bowling, with qualified participants advancing to the state championships. Events are scheduled to take place between 7 and 9 p.m. The games run through Oct. 6. Henderson, a keynote speaker at the games, is a track and field athlete who specializes in the 400-meter dash. She was a gold medalist in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a member of the American 4×400-meter relay squad. For more, see sdseniorgames.org.