The long-awaited Racers Grand Prix was officially launched yesterday by president of the Racers Track Club and world renowned track coach Glen Mills.

“It will be an ‘oh what a night’ experience come Saturday June 11 at the National Stadium with the best athletes Jamaica has to offer and some of the best from overseas competing at the first ever Racers Track Club-promoted Racers Grand Prix,” declared an ecstatic Mills as he gave details of the event at a launch at the Jamaica Pegasus yesterday.

The Racers Grand Prix, which is an International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) permit meet, features 16 listed events with over 100 athletes from 10 countries, including Jamaica, set to participate.

Heading the list of athletes participating is world record holder for the 100 and 200m, Usain Bolt, who is also a member of the Racers Track Club. Bolt is expected to be joined on track by compatriots Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Rasheed Dwyer, Hansle Parchment, Danielle Williams and Natasha Morrison.

Leading the overseas contingent of athletes is former 400m Olympic gold medallist LaShawn Merritt of the United States. Merritt will be accompanied to the meet by hurdlers Jason Richardson, Lolo Jones, Isiah Young, Bryshaun Nellum, Tori Bowie and Queen Harrison.

There will be two athletes from South Africa, Wayde van Niekirk, who runs the 200 and 400m, and 100m specialist Askani Simbine. Trinidad and Tobago will be represented by Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Michelle-Lee Ahye with the exciting Shaunae Miller from The Bahamas on the list of competitors.

“We really have some top runners performing on the night, but the Racers Grand Prix will not be all about runners, we have some top-class field event athletes making the trip.

“There is Gerd Kanter from Estonia, winner of the discus at the 2008 Olympics and a bronze medallist in the same event at the London Olympics.

“Then there is Petr Frydrych from the Czech Republic, a well-respected javelin thrower,” Mills announced with pride.

Newly appointed Minister of Sports, Olivia Grange, in her first official function since her swearing-in on Monday, gave the government’s and her full support to the Racers Grand Prix.

“I give my full support to this effort by Racers and I praise this initiative to have some of the top athletes participating on Jamaican soil, including our own stars,” she said.

“We in Government must find creative ways to support the Racers Grand Prix in order to promote brand Jamaica and to positively impact the growth and prosperity agenda of Jamaica,” Grange added.

The four official sponsors for the Racers Grand Prix are Adidas, Digicel, The Jamaica National Group, and Wisynco through its rehydration products Wata and Powerade.

The

Jamaica Observer is the official print media partner for the event.

So far the events planned are (men’s) 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, Javelin and discus. The women will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 100m hurdles, high jump and triple jump.

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