2 months ago
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With the Racers Grand Prix attracting several of the best talents from all over the world, the clash between Jamaicans and the rest of the world is set to take centre stage at the National Stadium this afternoon.
The Racers Grand Prix will kick off its schedule of events at 7:15 p.m. and is expected to close at 9:40.
One of the most anticipated races of the afternoon will be Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville’s appearance in the men’s 100m.
“I’m really excited to compete in Jamaica, even to compete anywhere. I don’t really have much local meets, so the Racers Grand Prix has been one of my favourite meets. I just didn’t get to run there, so I’m really execited for it,” Thompson said.
Thompson and Seville will meet up with South Africa’s rising sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza. The teenager holds a personal best of 9.94 seconds.
“As a young sprinter, you’re trying to understand what the sport is,” Walaza said at a pre-meet press conference in Kingston yesterday.
“Being here, I take it as a quest of learning how Jamaicans did back then and how they are doing now because they say this place is the place of sprinting and I believe that.”
Walaza, while admitting he holds some fear of racing against older and more experienced racers, welcomes the challenge to further his growth.
“This sport is a sport where you have to face your fears. I’ll say I have fears of racing people and I’ll need to get over that. I need to be strong within and to face it,” he said.
Also taking centre stage will be the women’s 100m clash where Jamaica’s twin turbo, Tia Clayton and Tina Clayton will face off against the United States’ (US) Jacious Sears.
The Clayton twins have been in fine form with Tia entering with a season’s best of 10.92 and Tina with 11.02.
Sears, who has been recovering after a injury-riddled season last year, is anticipating a competitive race, hoping to improve her lifetime best of 10.77.
“My expectations are to run fast, like in any race,” Sears said. “I definitely want to run a PR [personal record] but like I said before, it is just executing in the best way I can and whatever happens will happen.”
Eyes will also be on the men’s half-lap event, as Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor will run his first 200m race since 2022.
The former Calabar standout was suspended for over two years due to evading, refusing or failing to submit a sample and had made a winning return to the 400m two weeks ago at the JAAA World Athletics Championships Preparation meet.
Taylor will face off against former Kingston College standout, and now Great Britain speedster, Zharnel Hughes, who has a season best of 20.13.
A tense clash is also expected in the men’s 400m, as the US’ Christopher Bailey, the reigning World Indoor champion, will take on several of Jamaica’s top talents, including Rusheen McDonald, Zandrion Barnes and Demish Gaye.
“I was invited by coach Glen Mills and I’ve always enjoyed the presence of track and field in Jamaica, so it’s an honour to be here,” Bailey said.
“My intention is to always go out there and perform at my best effort. I’m not really chasing any time, just looking forward to having a clean and healthy race,” he added.
Schedule:
Women’s Triple Jump – 7:15 p.m. (Championship)
Women’s 400m hurdles – 7:20 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 400m Hurdles – 7:30 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 400m – 7:45 p.m.
Women’s 400m – 7:55 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 400m – 8:05 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s Long Jump – 8:10 p.m. (Championship)
Women’s 200m – 8:15 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 200m – 8:25 p.m. (Championship)
Women’s 100m – 8:40 p.m.
Men’s 100m – 8:50 p.m.
Women’s 100m hurdles – 9:05 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 110m hurdles – 9:20 p.m. (Championship)
Women’s 100m – 9:30 p.m. (Championship)
Men’s 100m – 9:40 p.m. (Championship)
English (US) ·