Matt Shechtman and Ricardo Aranda came away as the winners Monday in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race’s inaugural push-assist race.
After competing in the race’s trial run in 2015, Schectman was impressed with how the race is growing.
“It’s incredible,” said Schectman, who has competed in seven Peachtree Road Races. “Last year, we did it and there was just two (teams). Now there are five. We’re building year after year.”
Schectman credited the Kyle Pease Foundation for pairing him with Aranda. The foundation works to help wheelchair athletes through providing funding for their events as well as pairing them with locals in the community who want to help out.
Schectman also thanked Aranda for his reassurance as Schectman’s endurance weakened over time.
“Ricardo is an amazing lead and he keeps pushing me the whole way,” Schectman said. “He talked me off the ledge and kept me going. He’s an awesome puller.”
The Atlanta duo made the most of the event, which was supported by Shepherd Center and the Atlanta Track Club. The support from those around metro Atlanta was something that caught Schectman’s attention and made grabbing a victory even sweeter.
“The Peachtree is all about inclusion,” Schectman said. “Sixty thousand different people out here with 60,000 stories.”
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