Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson and 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell will headline the seventh Racers Grand Prix meet. This highly regarded meet will take place from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Jamaica Time on June 7 in Kingston. A total of 11 events will feature in the 2025 Racers Grand Prix.
Kishane Thompson aims for a strong 100m performance, competing against Jamaican teammate Oblique Seville and World Championship medalist Zharnel Hughes. These athletes will be looking to showcase their preparations ahead of major upcoming international competitions.
Defending World Champion Antonio Watson will compete in the 400m against American Chris Bailey and Jamaican sprinter Zandrion Barnes.
After a 2.5-year doping ban, 400m champion Christopher Taylor will make his comeback to professional track. His first event back will be the 200m, as his ban officially ends on May 15.
The meet will also feature Gary Card’s professional debut after winning gold at ISSA Championships.
In the long jump, Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock will take on American competitors Jarion Lawson and Jeremiah Davis.
The 110m hurdles event promises fierce competition, with Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett challenging Americans Cordell Tinch and Trey Cunningham. Last year’s winner Cunningham aims to defend his title, but Bennett seeks victory on home soil.
Tobi Amusan, Tia Jones, and Masai Russell headline women’s 100m hurdles race. Jones, fresh off her Grand Slam Track win in Kingston, aims to challenge Amusan and Russell for victory.
Other notable female competitors include Tia and Tina, Alana Reid, and a host of rising stars such as Shashalee Forbes.
Racers Grand Prix chairman Glen Mills stressed the event’s importance in developing local athletes’ careers.
“It is important that we stage the Racers Grand Prix. We aim to give local athletes, especially Jamaican high school graduates, vital international competition experience.” Mills explained at the event’s media launch.
Mills also highlighted the impact of the Grand Prix in launching the careers of many young Jamaican athletes.
“Quite a number of our young athletes that have excelled have used the Racers Grand Prix as their platform. We’re very cognizant of the importance of what we provide for our local athletes,” he added.
Sponsors for the event include global brand Adidas, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Restaurants of Jamaica, the Sports Development Foundation, Stewart’s Automotive Group, General Accident, and Chas E Ramson Limited.
Tickets for the event are now available, with free entry for the Bleachers section until May 31. After this date, the event will charge JA$1000 for Bleachers, JA$3000 for Grandstand, and JA$5000 at the finish line.
