IT has been three years since the last staging of one of the region’s premier international track and field events, the Racers Grand Prix, however, organisers are excited about its return on June 3 and are promising to again deliver at the highest level in what is expected to be a major boost for the local calendar.

The Racers Grand Prix, which had its inaugural staging in 2016, developed a reputation for high-level competition and efficient execution before the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020.

Glen Mills, the founder and head coach at Racers Track Club, told the Jamaica Observer that organisers are already in discussions with some of the biggest names in international athletics, and underlined the importance of the meet to athletes in Jamaica and across the region.

“The members of the Racers organising committee and the Racers club are excited to once again have the opportunity to stage top-class athletic competition in Jamaica once more,” Mills stated in a recent interview.

“The Racers Grand Prix has been a crucial meet for many of our own athletes and athletes from the NACAC region, some of whom have not had the opportunity to compete in Europe. The Jamaica fans also look forward to witnessing live, world-class competition,” he added.

The meet has provided the stage for many memorable performances and moments in Jamaican track and field history — most notably Usain Bolt’s final race on local soil in June 2017 — and has also welcomed a number of high-profile athletes to Jamaica’s shores.

Standout international competitors such as Mo Farah, Wayde Van Niekerk, Kirani James, Christian Taylor, David Oliver, Ryan Whiting, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Fred Kerley, and Kendra Harrison have all featured alongside household Jamaican names Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, Shaneika Ricketts, Fedrick Dacres, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, Natoya Goule, Shericka Jackson and Hansle Parchment.

“We have been able to maintain a very high standard and the 2023 staging will be of the same level. Currently, we are in negotiations with some of the very best athletes worldwide and, based on our outstanding record and reputation, we are expecting the line-ups to be of great competition,” said Mills.

The world-renowned coach added that the organisers are working hard to ensure that there will be competition in a wide spread of events to reflect and facilitate Jamaica’s continued expansion in terms of high-level performances across the spectrum of disciplines.

“Jamaica continues to excel in the sprints, hurdles, and a number of field events and we aim to feature these events in this year’s renewal,” Mills shared.

Racers Track Club is one of the most recognisable Jamaican athletics institutions and has been significant in the careers of some of the island’s biggest names in the sport such as Bolt, Blake and Warren Weir.