Ardmore’s industry and businesses will compete for bragging rights while supporting two beneficiaries in the annual Ardmore Corporate Fitness Challenge.

The challenge returns May 27-29 and will feature 11 teams in two divisions competing in 10 sports and a T-shirt challenge. Michelin will serve as a major sponsor for the event this year.

“I really appreciate them,” Committee member Mike Whitson said. “Our top sponsorship, we have always put as the titanium at $5,000. We have had that for the last few years, and no one had done it but this year, we have the titanium sponsor.”

The two beneficiaries will remain as Girls on the Run and the Gloria Ainsworth Child Care & Learning Center. Girls on the Run hosts a 5K in conjunction with the Corporate Challenge. Teams participating in the event have an opportunity to earn extra points. This year, the 5K took place on May 10 with close to 80 Corporate Challenge participants joining in.

Teams competing in Division 1 are:

• Ardmore City Schools
• Lighthouse
• Mercy Hospital Ardmore
• Michelin
• Murray State College
• Valero

Teams competing in Division II are:

• Citizens Bank
• Dot Foods
• First National Bank
• Noble Research Institute
• SouthernTech

“We are thankful for our partners at Parks and Rec every year and the city,” Whitson said. “We get to use Lakeview Golf Course and Regional Park for some of our events. Teresa Ervin and her crew help us. And then, Ardmore Schools is a great partner, and we have gone back in with the “Y” hosting volleyball and then Oak Hall letting us use their facilities.”

Whitson said the partners provide usage of the facilities free of charge, allowing the Corporate Challenge to keep more of its funding focused on the beneficiaries. The challenge has also moved some of its events back indoors after having previously held basketball and volleyball in Whittington Park.

“After the 2020 deal, we pushed everything outside and just kept it there,” he said. “And then people said, ‘Can we go inside?’”

Whitson said the planning began several months ago and said it takes a combined effort to make the challenge a yearly success.

“Really, we always have a planning committee that is made up of the different people from the teams that every year put it together,” he said. “It is not a single person or two people deal. It is a group effort. They have all their own responsibilities, and it is great to have that every year.”

Following the competition, an awards luncheon will be hosted by Mercy Hospital Ardmore on June 3. Additional information on the Ardmore Corporate Fitness Challenge can be found at www.ardmorecfc.com.

Team event schedule:

Tuesday May 27

• 6 p.m. – Golf at Lakeview Golf Course
• 6:15 p.m. – Div. 1 volleyball at Ardmore Family YMCA
• 6:15 p.m. – Div. 2 volleyball at Oak Hall
• 6:15 p.m. – Basketball at Ardmore High School

Wednesday, May 28

• 6 p.m. – Rowing at Regional Park
• 6:30 p.m. – Pickleball at Regional Park
• 7 p.m. – Cornhole at Regional Park

Thursday, May 29

• 6 p.m. – Obstacle course at Ardmore High School
• 6 p.m. – Executive relay at Ardmore High School
• 6:45 p.m. – Home run derby at Ardmore High School
• 6:45 p.m. – Tug of war at Ardmore High School