Krige Schabort won of the men’s Shepherd Center’s wheelchair division of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on Friday. Schabort finished the 6.2 miles in 20:30.17.
Aaron Pike finished closely behind Schabort with a time of 20:32:76.
At 6:45 a.m. Friday, 55 men and women from the United States, Costa Rica, Columbia, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Spain, South Korea and Switzerland set off on the 6.2-mile race down Peachtree Road toward Piedmont Park.
Third-seeded Schabort of Cedartown also is a member of the South African Paralympic team.
This is the 18th time racing the Peachtree for Schabort, 50. He placed first in 2002, 2003, 2006. His personal best at the Peachtree is 18:48.
“I like racing with the young guys,” Schabort said. “It’s a little bit easier on wheels than on your feet.”
Schabort also placed first in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 L.A. Marathon.
“I didn’t feel too much pressure here because I’ve won four times and because I’m an older guy also feel like I don’t have to go so hard but when I’m in it I just go as hard as I can,” Schabort said.
But he said none of his wins, including this year’s, are sweeter than any of his others. He said he plans to return to the Peachtree in 2015, possibly for fifth win, but he’s not sure if he will race in the open. He may switch to the masters, depending on how he feels.
“It burns like crazy but you just have to keep on going,” Schabort said.
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