For Immediate Release
September 5, 2019
Contact:
Office of Policy and Communications
(678) 920-0857
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Hosts Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway
Annual race benefits Atlanta-area college students for scholarships
MEDIA ATTENDING MUST NOTE REQUIREMENTS AND LOCATION BELOW
ATLANTA – Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) General Manager John Selden, and dozens of ATL employees will host more than 2,000 runners early Saturday, Sept. 7 for the fifth annual Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway. In partnership with the United Way of Greater Atlanta, this race offers the rare opportunity to run or walk on ATL’s 5th runway — one of the flattest and fastest courses in Greater Atlanta. It also serves as a USATF-certified 5K course/AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Proceeds from the sold-out race will benefit the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship program and United Way of Greater Atlanta’s College Bound program.
In addition to supporting Atlanta’s youth, this year’s race will include two sustainability components. Local nonprofit Eco Sneakers asks participants to bring and donate used sneakers. Gently used sneakers will be given to area residents in need and sneakers that can no longer be used will be repurposed to create playground surfaces, basketball courts and tracks. ATL is also embarking on a robust waste management effort by composting trash from the race, which will benefit the West End Community Urban Garden.
Four Olympic medalists — Christian Coleman, Kristi Castlin, Angelo Taylor Jr. and Terrance Trammell — will serve as race ambassadors. Participants will be greeted by the Marching Astros of Frederick Douglass High School.
WHAT: Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 7
Check-in / bib pickup: 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Runway lineup: 6:15 a.m.
Start: 6:30 a.m.
Finish: 7:30 a.m. (course will close at 7:30 a.m.)
Runners/walkers who are unable to complete the course by this time will be redirected to an alternate route.
Awards 7:55 a.m.
WHERE: 5th Runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Runway 10-28)
As this event is post-security, attending media must RSVP with full name and date of birth of each member to media@atl.com by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, serving more than 107 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 U.S. destinations and 70 international destinations in more than 50 countries. ATL boasts a direct economic impact of $34.8 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70.9 billion in Georgia. The Airport is the largest employer in Georgia, with more than 63,000 individuals working on-site. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, sustainability, architectural engineering and construction. In 2016, ATL set in motion a multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, ATLNext, which will modernize the Domestic Terminal, extend two concourses, construct several parking decks, add a sixth runway, expand cargo facilities and pave the way for a 440-room hotel with Class A office space. For more information, visit www.atl.com. NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS For HD broadcast quality b-roll of Airport operations, events and generic interior/exterior shots, visit our ATL Video Newsroom at https://vimeo.com/atlairport/channels
