For Release – March 9, 2016

On Saturday 11 June this year the world’s finest runners, jumpers and throwers will gather at the National Stadium in Kingston for the first edition of the Racers Grand Prix Jamaica, which will be an annual international track and field meet. This was announced today by Glen Mills, head coach of Racers Track Club – the training base of several Olympic medalists, including the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Mills noted that the Racers Grand Prix will bring together more than 100 of the world’s best athletes from more than 10 countries and will feature the best sprinters in the world, but will also showcase field events. The events to be contested are the following:

Men

Women

100m

100m

200m

200m

300m

400m

400m

800m

110m Hurdles

100m Hurdles

400m Hurdles

High Jump

Javelin Throw

Triple Jump

Discus Throw

Mills observed that this was the first time in Jamaica that track and field fans would be treated to world-class javelin competition. For this and all the other events, he said, the aim was to get at least four of the top ten athletes in the world.

So far, the athletes who have signified their intention to compete at the meet include – from Jamaica: Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Rasheed Dwyer, Hansle Parchment, Danielle Williams and Natasha Morrison; from South Africa: Wayde van Niekirk and Askani Simbine; from the USA: Lashawn Merritt, Jason Richardson, Isiah Young, Bryshaun Nellum, Tori Bowie, Queen Harrison and Lolo Jones; from the Czech Republic: Petr Frydrch; from Estonia: Gerd Kantner; from Trinidad and Tobago: Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Michelle-Lee Ahye; and from the Bahamas: Shaunae Miller.

Excellent TV coverage is being arranged, both locally and internationally.

We are very pleased to announce that so far we have 4 Official Partners on board: Adidas, Digicel, the Jamaica National Group and Wisynco through its rehydration products Wata and Powerade. In addition, we are delighted to welcome JUTC, KFC, Kia Motors, Main Events and the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel as Official Suppliers. The Jamaica Observer, KLAS-ESPN, Sportsmax and TVJ are our Media Partners and will support us with superb event coverage.

This new meet will increase the opportunities for professional athletes to get high-class competition outside of Europe, especially with the recent termination of the New York Grand Prix. It is also expected to generate funds to support the development programme of the club’s large number of non-professional athletes. In addition, it is scheduled at a time to give athletes a last chance to assess their readiness and fine-tune their preparations before the Olympic trials.

The Racers Grand Prix is sanctioned by the IAAF as an Area Permit Meet.

Tickets for the event will be available at 5,000 Jamaican dollars (US$50) for Grandstand Finish Line; 3,000 dollars for the rest of the Grandstand; and 500 dollars for the Bleachers.

Grand Stand (Finish Line) Grand Stand (Other) Bleachers
$5000
US$50
$3000
US$30
$500
US$5