ATLANTA — A new division is coming to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race this year.
High schoolers will be able to race professionally first-hand at the iconic upcoming July 4th event.
Performance programming director at the Atlanta Track Club, Eric Heintz, questioned, "These athletes are the future of Peachtree, so why not put them front and center and celebrate their achievements and potential with the very best in the world?”
The elite high school division will consist of 20 boys and 20 girls from the Georgia classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027.
According to the organizers, the new division is the brainchild of Sarah Burwell, a two-time Atlanta Track Club and Georgia Tech. She then convinced Heintz to get the program started.
“As I looked at all of the populations we served, it stood out that we were not highlighting the immense talent that Georgia has in the high school ranks,” said Heintz.
High school students will not only participate in the adult race but also receive a racing uniform and shoes from Adidas. They will also attend a pre-race banquet and press events on the morning of the race.
According to the Atlanta Track Club, it has already invited all of the 2023 All-Metro Cross Country Team. Other students who have performed at high-level cross-country meets will also be considered for the new division, a news release stated.
Here's a list of athletes who have already accepted their invitation into the division:
- Riley Comstock (Harrison High School)
- Jameson Pifer (Collins Hill High School)
- Davis Drake (Johnson Ferry Christian Academy)
- Zahara Bernal (Pace Academy)
- Caroline Rogers (Marist School)
- Weezie Moore (Wesleyan School).
"It'll be really cool to run this race with some other fast kids,” said Bernal, who is a 2023 GHSA 4A state cross-country champion.
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