Jamaican Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson and reigning Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell headline a stacked group of athletes confirmed for the seventh staging of the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, June 7 at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The meet is scheduled to run from 7:00pm -9:30pm Jamaica Time and will feature 11 events: the 100m, 200m and 400m for Men and Women, the 100m hurdles for Women and the 110m hurdles for Men, the 400m hurdles for Men and Women, the Triple Jump for Women and the Long Jump for Men.
Joining Thompson in a stacked 100m field are countryman Oblique Seville and World Championship medallist Zharnel Hughes.
Defending World champion Antonio Watson will do battle with the likes of American World Indoor champion Chris Bailey and countryman Zandrion Barnes in the one lap event.
June 7 will also see the return of former national 400m champion Christopher Taylor to professional track & field.
Taylor, who was suspended for two-and-a-half years by the Athletics Integrity Unit back in 2023 for evading, refusing or failing to submit a sample, will compete in the 200m with his ban officially ending on May 15.
Class One Boys 100m gold medallist at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, Gary Card, will also be making his professional debut at the Grand Prix.
Olympic, World Championship and World Indoor silver medallist Wayne Pinnock will be challenged by the likes of American Jarion Lawson and Jeremiah Davis in the long jump while Orlando Bennett will do battle with Americans Cordell Tinch and Trey Cunningham, last year’s winner, in the 110m hurdles.
On the Women’s side, World record holder Tobi Amusan and Tia Jones, the winner at this month’s inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, will surely be part of an exciting sprint hurdles race alongside the aforementioned Russell.
Other competitors include Jamaica’s Clayton twins Tia and Tina, World U-20 100m champion Alana Reid, Shashalee Forbes, Krystal Sloley, Charokee Young, Aleia Hobbs, Favour Ofili and Jacious Sears to name a few.
Chairman of the meet’s organizing committee and Racers Track Club head coach, Glen Mills, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing for a number of athletes that are set to light the newly laid National Stadium track on fire.
“It is important that we stage the Racers Grand Prix. Our major objective is to give our local athletes, especially those who are transitioning from the High School who have not gone abroad to develop their skills but have done it here in Jamaica, much-needed exposure to what international competition is like so we try every year to have a blend of international stars and our developing athletes compete together,” Mills said at the Racers Grand Prix media launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday.
“Quite a number of our young athletes that have excelled have used the Racers Grand Prix as their platform. We’re very cognizant of the importance of what we provide for our local athletes,”” Mills added.
Sponsors for the meet include Adidas, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Restaurants of Jamaica, the Sports Development Foundation, Stewart’s Automotive Group, General Accident and Chas E Ramson Limited.
Tickets for the Bleachers section are free until May 31 according to Racers Grand Prix CEO Donovan Blake, after which they will cost JA$1000 with Grandstand Tickets costing JA$3000 and JA$5000 at the finish line.