6 months ago
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CHAIRMAN OF the Racers Grand Prix organising committee and acclaimed track and field coach, Glen Mills, is anticipating an epic Racers Grand Prix thanks to the stars already confirmed.
Mills revealed several athletes who will be competing at the track meet during the event’s launch at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday.
The Racers Grand Prix, set for June 1 at the National Stadium, Mills said will be a ‘stellar competition’ bearing in mind the growing list of world-class athletes set to compete across 13 events.
According to Mills, the meet’s main event will be the men’s 100 metres.
“This year, the spotlight will be on the men’s 100m. Jamaica will see three of the top competitors from last year’s World Championships,” he said.
“This is going to be a real stellar competition.”
Reigning 100 and 200-metre world champion, Noah Lyles, will be the event’s headliner as he faces off against the pair of Jamaican rising talents, Oblique Seville and Kadrian Goldson.
Also confirmed to be in the field are Zharnel Hughes, American sprinter Kendal Williams, and Canada’s Aaron Brown.
“Heading the field is the current world sprint champion, Noah Lyles,” said Mills. “He will have competition from Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, who was the bronze medallist and Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who was fourth by a mere three-hundredths of a second.
“Lyles personal best is 9.83 seconds and so is Zharnel Hughes’. Oblique Seville is only three-hundredths of a second behind. When last I looked, the stadium record is 9.75, so I would advise you all to get your tickets if you love speed because the track can be fast.”
The women’s 100 will also serve up an entertaining clash. In what Mills dubbed a ‘battle of youth’, world indoor champion Julien Alfred is set to face off against Jamaican junior record holder Alana Reid.
Reigning 400-metre world champion, Antonio Watson, is another headliner. He will do battle against Champion Allison, Emmanuel Bamidele, Demish Gaye, Zandrion Barnes, and Javon Francis.
Francis will be making his return to the track meet for the first time since 2018.
Another one of Mills’ picks for athletes to look out for, is Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert.
Hibbert is set to line up in the men’s triple jump and Mills praised the rising talent.
“Jaydon is the most exciting talent we have seen and the top sensation in the men’s triple jump. He has an inimitable style and flair that is just infectious. We are happy we are able to provide him the opportunity to compete at the highest level locally in front of his home fans in preparation for the Olympic Games,” he said.
Other notable names confirmed for the 2024 Racers Grand Prix include Abby Steiner in the women’s 200 metres, Hansle Parchment, Ackera Nugent, and Megan Tapper in the men’s and women’s sprint hurdles, while the world under-20 record holder in the 400-metre hurdles, Roshawn Clarke, will also line up on the track come June 1.
English (US) ·