Though it is an exciting local event that many Cedartown residents have looked forward to for the last four years, the 5K wheelchair race that will take place on Tuesday, June 29 is also a part of a large-scale, nationwide racing series.

The Cedartown Advance Rehab 5K, which is part of the annual Cedartown Pre-Peachtree Training Camp, is one of the core races of the America Series 2004.

AMERICA SERIES

The America Series is a two-week long event involving several races in Canada and along the United States East Coast, ending with the most notable race, the Peachtree Road Race held on July 4 in Atlanta.

The first race is held in Toronto, Canada. Labeled as the Rolling Rampage 10K race, participants will be competing for $30,000 worth of prize money.

Last year’s winners of the Canadian race were, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa in the men’s open division, Diane Roy of Canada in the women’s open, and Australian Thomas Geierspichler in the quad open. All three winners from the last year’s Toronto race will make an appearance in Cedartown for the 5K.

Following the Rampage, a 10K race will be held in Long Island, N.Y. This event will take place on a mostly flat course and racers will compete for $25,000 in prize money.

From New York, racers will be treated to a dose of Southern hospitality in Georgia, as nearly 70 world-class athletes get ready to hug the curves in one of downtown Cedartown’s residential areas.

Following the race in Cedartown, an Atlanta race, Meet in the Heat, is scheduled for July 1 and 2. After that, racers will be primed and ready to go for the main event, The Peachtree Road Race on July 4.

CEDARTOWN 5K

After twisting, turning and winding through a race course that will lead wheelchair athletes from around the world across Marshall Street, around Springdale Lake and down John Hand Road, the participants of this year’s Advance Rehab 5K race will vie for the first shot at the finish line.

The race is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the south end of Peek Park and will end near the College Street park entrance.

From the starting line, racers will turn onto Lakeside Drive. From there, they will travel down Wiley Road, then George West Road, and then onto Marshall Street.

The racers will take a left onto John Phillips Road, then move on to John Hand Road, from there it is a straight shot down College Street to the finish line.

PRE-PEACHTREE TRAINGING CAMP AND

TRAFFIC CHANGES

The fifth annual race, along with the Pre-Peachtree Training Camp will close several roads and alter traffic flow throughout June 28, 29 and 30.

On June 28 and 30, racers will train for the Peachtree Race along some of Cedartown’s city streets.

Though no roads will be closed, Lindy Fairel, training camp organizer, said that motorists should try and redirect their travel plans to accommodate the racers.

Roads used during the training sessions will be College Street, Jule Peek Road, John Hand Road, Cave Spring Road, Sixth Street, Seab Green Road and Friendship Road.

These sessions will be held on June 28 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., then again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. On June 30, one training session will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

On race day, June 29, the areas near College Street, Springdale Lake, John Phillips Road and Marshall Street will be limited to traffic during the morning hours. Police will be present during this time.

At 6:45 p.m., these areas will be closed down to traffic, so motorists should have alternate routes of travel, said officials.

This year as a change to the events of race day, there will not be an 800 meter sprint. The sprint was taken out so that racers could concentrate on only one race that night, the 5K.

A timed trial race will be held on June 30 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

The timed trial is scheduled to encompass Sixth Street and Seab Green Road.

THE RACERS

Cedartown’s own Krige Schabort will participate in both the race and the training camp. Schabort, originally from South Africa, won the wheelchair division of the Peachtree Road Race in 2002 and 2003.

But the Peachtree victories are not his only wins. Schabort has won medals in many races around the world including the 1992 and 2002 Paralympics in the 26 mile marathon.

He is a six-time winner of the Honolulu Marathon from 1998 through 2003 and a two-time winner of New York City Marathon.

He was also a winner of the Oita Marathon in Japan a three-time winner of the Detroit Marathon, two-time winner of the Columbus Marathon and is a world record holder for the 2002 25K.

In 1999, Krige received The Presidential Sports Award from South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

Schabort moved from South Africa to Cedartown in 1997, along with his wife Caron.

Along with Schabort, other athletes scheduled to attend the Pre-Peachtree Training Camp are:

From Canada

Jeff Adams, Dean Bergeron, Clayton Gerein, Carl Marquis, Chantel Petitclerc, Rick Reelie, Diane Roy, Kelly Smith.

From the U.S.

Tyler Byers, Cheri Blauwet, Jessica Galli, Kevin James Hosea, Chad Bryan Johnson, Chris Kohler, Joseph Miller, Bob Mollinati, Tom Ottenwess, Anthony Russo, Brandon Taylor, Rick Leone, Nathan Taylor, Michael Timpa, Chris Waddell, Cainan Willison.

From Mexico

Aaron Gordian, Ariadne Hernandez, Saul Mendoza, Jorge Luna, Martin Velasco, Ivone Reyes.

From Australia

Kurt Fearnley, Paul Nunnari, Christie Dawes, Andrew Dawes, Eliza Stankovic, Richard Coleman, Frederic Periac, Richard Nicholson.

From Austria

Thomas Geierspichler

From Switzerland

Edith Hunkeler, Franz Nietlispach, Hug Marcel, Paul Odermatt, Beat Bosch, Andre Fries.

From Great Britian

Tanni Grey-Thompson

From Spain

Santiago Quinto

From South Africa

Ernst Van Dyk

From New Zeland

Gavin Foulsham