RACERS Grand Prix chief organiser Glen Mills is promising what he describes as an exciting meet showcasing the best of Jamaican and international track and field athletes.

Despite the challenges that come with hosting a major event, Mills says they are determined to deliver a thrilling experience for athletes and spectators alike.

“The meet has its challenges, and of course the biggest one is financial,” Mills said during the official press launch yesterday. “So, I am really happy to hear the sponsors expressing their support and the pleasure of being associated with us.

“Putting on these track meets to get the international athletes involved is very difficult and it takes a lot of money. The competition of meets across the world is getting more and more fierce every year, but there is something special about Racers Grand Prix.

“Right now, the interest is so high that I have the interest to put on three meets with different athletes — and we are definitely happy and proud of what we are doing.”

The meet, which is in its seventh staging, is scheduled for the National Stadium on June 7.

Mills says Racers Grand Prix has become a staple on the Jamaican track and field calendar, providing a platform for young athletes to launch their careers and make a name for themselves in the sport.

“It is very important that we stage the Racers Grand Prix because this meet has an unusual mix,” Mills said. “Our main objective is to give our local athletes — especially those who are transitioning from high school and who have not gone abroad to develop their skills but have done it here in Jamaica — the exposure to what international competition is like.”

He says many of Jamaica’s top athletes have competed in the meet and it has become a benchmark for track and field excellence in Jamaica.

“We try every year to have a blend of international stars and our developing athletes to compete together,” he said. “If you have been following the meet you would see that quite a number of our young athletes have excelled well in the Racers Grand Prix as their platform, and have gone on to be very successful.”

“One such athlete is the reigning 400m world champion [Antonio Watson] who had his breakthrough in the 400 when he first ran below 45 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix.”

Mills says that Jamaica’s World Championships finalist Christopher Taylor will make his return at the meet after serving a two-and-half-year suspension. Taylor, a former Calabar standout, was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for evading and refusing or failing to submit a sample for drug testing.

Sport Minister Olivia Grange said the Government will be contributing $10 million this year. Taylor will be joined at the meet by Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson and Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell from the United States. Watson, Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, Oblique Seville, Bryan Levell, and Rusheen McDonald are among the other Jamaicans set to compete.

Americans Chris Bailey, Tray Cunningham, and Zharnell Hughes of Great Britain are also confirmed to compete in the meet.

On the female side, Russell will be joined in the event by 100m hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan from Nigeria. Jamaican sprinters Tia and Tina Clayton, Alana Reid, Shashalee Forbes, and Krystal Sloley, along with Americans Alicia Briscoe and Tina Jones, are some of the names that have been confirmed for the meet so far.

Bleachers tickets will be free to the public but patrons must visit the Racers website and enter their name, telephone number, email address, and age in order to secure these. As of May 31, however, the tickets will cost $1,000 for the bleachers. The finishing line tickets for the Grandstand will be $5,000, while it will cost $3,000 for regular grandstand.