The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race could see a photo finish for the second consecutive year with the commitments of Ben Payne and Scott Overall to compete in this year’s 10-kilometer race on the Fourth of July.
Overall edged Payne at the tape last year in one of the most exciting finishes in the event’s 46-year history. Overall won in 0.09 seconds, finishing the race in 29:30. Race officials spent more than an hour analyzing the finish before announcing the winner.
They are two of a strong field for this year’s race from Lenox Square to Piedmont Park. The Atlanta Track Club confirmed numerous competitors for this year’s race.
The field will include two-time World Marathon champ Edna Kiplagat, L.A. marathon winner Buzunesh Deba and New Zealand record-holder Kim Smith. Kiplagat and Deba are sub 2-hour, 20-minute marathon runners.
Neely Spence Gracey, the top U.S. finisher at the Boston Marathon, is also scheduled to compete in the Peachtree.
On the men’s side, U.S. Olympian in the marathon Jared Ward, who is coached by former Peachtree winner Ed Eyestone, will also compete. The entire field will be finalized in coming weeks.
“The Olympic games are the big prize” Ward told the Atlanta Track Club. “But my road to Rio will go through Atlanta on July 4.”
The men’s and women’s first-place finisher will win $7,500 each. The total purse is $57,000.
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