The Cedartown Wheelchair 5K Road Race returns on Thursday and participants are in town from around the globe to take part for the evening event.
The 20th edition of the race is this year part of a trio of road races that includes the Peachtree Road Race on Tuesday and the Boilermaker in Utica, New York on July 9. The Rolling Thunder Triple Crown Series kicked off with the July 4 event in Atlanta and continues tomorrow with the 5K here in Cedartown on North College Street.
It is free for all to attend and watch the race.
Racers from around the United States and the globe are converging for the race starting at 6 p.m.
The race course will see athletes traverse the twists and turns of the North College Street neighborhood for the 5K, taking a fast start down North College at Victoria before they make a turn at Lakeside Drive, continue briefly on John Phillips Road, turn back onto Lakeview Drive, cruise onward on West John Hand Road before ultimately ending up again for a sprint to the finish on College Circle to North College Street and the finish line in front of Peek Park.
Local residents are encouraged to come out and support the athletes during the race, bring bells to ring their success and enjoy meeting the athletes prior and following the race.
The first camp was held in 2000 during an Olympic year, but some breaks have been taken during years of the Summer Paralympics and during the COVID pandemic in the event.
Racers are able to gather in Cedartown thanks to the efforts of organizers like Paralympic medalist & ESPY winner Krige Schabort, local pastor Dave Grove, and many other community leaders. They’ve continued to lend their leadership and support to the race throughout the two decades since athletes first came to Cedartown for the camp capped off by the 5K.
