Sunday, June 29, 2025–11:30 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Wheelchair athletes from all over the world will be in Northwest Georgia this week for the Cedartown Wheelchair Athlete Training Camp and 5K.
The athletes started arriving in town on Friday, according to Tori Adamson, media liaison for the event.
“We are expecting about 40 athletes from across the United States and across the globe,” she said. “We have athletes coming from Mexico and the U.K. “We actually have someone from the Netherlands, and I think it’s the first time we’ve had someone joining us from Belgium, as well. We also have a team from the University of Arizona making their annual trek to Cedartown, which is fantastic because they have a great wheelchair racing program there.”
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the athletes will be out training on the roads in Cedartown from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.
“So, if you are going to be in Cedartown, be on the lookout,” Adamson said. “Then on Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock, we are going to be having a little track meet at Darlington. Anyone is welcome. We are going to have snow cones, so come out and enjoy. It’s a great way to get an up-close look at wheelchair racing.”
The main event, the 5K race, will be on Wednesday evening.
“It is on College Street at Peek’s Park,” Adamson said. “There will be a kids’ fun run at 6:45 and that is for any kid up to the age of 10 or 12 who can participate. We are also going to have food trucks, Chick-fil-a, and I think we are going to have Snack Shack. The races are going to start at 7 o’clock. This is ensure that the athletes are able to cool down a little easier and they are not overloaded by the heat and humidity.”
The top 3 in each division receive prize money and custom trophies.
Now in its 22nd year, the event is held in partnership with the Shepherd Center and Atlanta Track Club’s Peachtree 10K. The event was started by hometown hero Krige Schabort, who is originally from South Africa. He was training in Cedartown prior to the Peachtree Road Race and found it was a great way get acclimatized or get used to the heat and humidity.
“There used to be a race in Long Island about two weeks before the Peachtree Road Race,” Adamson said. “Many of the athletes who were coming in from around the world had to decide whether to stay in New York or hang out in Atlanta, and not be able to really train for a week before the Peachtree.”
You can get more information about the event at cedartown5K.org.