Lyles among stars booked for Racers Grand Prix
The 2024 staging of the Racers Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling affair, with a number of the world’s biggest track and field stars, including American World Championships triple gold medalist Noah Lyles confirmed to compete at the meet. The event, now in its sixth staging, will take place on June 1 at the National Stadium.
Lyles, who secured the sprint double at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary last year, is slated to compete in the men’s 100-meters event, where he will face Jamaica’s pair Oblique Seville and Kadrian Goldson. The field will also include Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Canada’s Aaron Brown.
Speaking at Tuesday’s launch held at the Pegasus in Kingston, chairman of the organising committee Glen Mills, expressed anticipation for an exciting meet this year. “I think we have some great line-ups because one of the things about a meet is that the names are good, but the quality of the competition also has to be good. So, what we have this year is big names and quality athletes to challenge them,” Mills stated. “I anticipate every race will have some nail-biting finishes at this year’s meet.”
Minister of Sports Olivia Grange has pledged the Government’s commitment of $10 million to this year’s staging of the meet. The women’s 100m field consists of reigning World Indoor 60m champion Julian Alfred of St Lucia, Jamaica’s national junior 100m record holder Alana Reid, and her compatriot Ramona Burchell. The event will also feature Tamara Clarke of the United States.
Jamaica’s reigning 400m champion Antonio Watson headlines the field for the event, which also includes his compatriots Demish Gaye, Zandrion Barnes, and Javon Francis. Champion Allison from the US and Emmanuel Bamidele of the UAE are also set to compete in the event.
Jamaica’s Cherokee Young, Ashil Williams, Candice McLeod, Stacey-Ann Williams, and Rhasidat Adeleke from Ireland are among the competitors scheduled to participate in the 400m event. Reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion Hansle Parchment leads a strong field of competitors set to contest the event at the meet.
The event will also feature his countrymen Damion Thomas and Tyler Mason, as well as Trey Cunningham and Freddie Crittenden from the United States.
World Junior triple jump record holder Jaydan Hibbert leads a field of five confirmed participants for the event at the meet. The others are his countrymen Jordan Scott, Will Clay and Chris Bernard both of the United States and Kaiwan Culmer for The Bahamas.