The clash between the exciting young South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza and the two fastest Jamaican men’s junior 100m runners ever, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and Gary Card, could be one of the highlights of the seventh staging of the Racers Grand Prix set for the National Stadium on June 7.

Nineteen year-old Walaza ran a world Under-20 leading 9.94 seconds (-0.3m/s), third-fastest in the world so far, and fourth-fastest ever by an Under-20 athlete at a World Athletics Continental meet in Croatia last weekend.

Nkrumie, who ran 9.99 seconds in 2023, will make his Racers Grand Prix debut. Card, who turns 18 a few days before the meet, ran a personal best 10.06 seconds at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships while Deandre Daley, the third-fastest Jamaican junior 100m sprinter, with a personal best 10.08 seconds will also be in the race.

Racers Grand Prix Chief Executive Officer Devon Blake confirmed yesterday that a key name will be absent.

“American women’s sprint hurdler Masai Russell has pulled out through injury and will not be competing at Grand Slam Track this weekend nor Racers Grand Prix next weekend,” he said. “The women’s hurdles event still remains strong with Megan Tapper, [Bahamian] Devynne Charlton, young Kerrica Hill, and Yanique Thompson ensuring a good event.”

The event, which is a World Athletics Continental Silver event, will have competition in the men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles, 100m hurdles, women’s triple jump, and men’s long jump.

“Racers Grand Prix this year is more than just a track and field experience,” Blake said. “We are creating a family experience with a kiddies’ village with bounceabout and other rides for parents to make use of the full day. We are encouraging those families who have not gone online to access the free bleachers tickets before June 1 to do so now before that deal expires.”