Noah Lyles, the American sprint star, has been confirmed to compete in the men’s 200m at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, June 3 at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The announcement was made by meet director Glen Mills at a media launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Mills expressed his gratitude to Adidas and Global Athletics for making Lyles’ appearance possible.
Lyles defended his world 200m title in a breathtaking performance on July 21, 2022, at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he ran the third-fastest time in history. His time of 19.31 seconds broke Michael Johnson’s American record, making Lyles the first back-to-back men’s world 200m champion since Usain Bolt won four titles in a row from 2009 to 2015. Lyles shaved 0.01 seconds from Johnson’s record set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His 19.31 seconds put him ahead of Johnson and alone in third place on the all-time list behind Bolt’s world record of 19.19 and Yohan Blake’s 19.26.
Wayde van Niekerk returns to Racers Grand Prix after injury
Joining Lyles at the meet will be Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek, who came in second in the US 200m medals sweep in Oregon, and South African Wayde van Niekerk, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m. Van Niekerk, who ran a world-leading 44.17 over 400m last weekend, has gradually returned to action in recent years after sustaining a career-threatening injury, reaching the Olympic semifinals in 2021 and the World Championships final in 2022. He will make his second appearance at the Racers Grand Prix.
Tobi Amusan and Shericka Jackson to showcase talent at Racers Grand Prix
Also confirmed for the meet is Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who broke the women’s 100m hurdles world record at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Other top athletes confirmed for the event include Jamaicans Shericka Jackson, the 2022 World Championships 200m gold medalist, and Hansle Parchment, the Olympic 110m hurdles champion.
Other Jamaicans confirmed to participate in the event are Kerrica Hill, Tina Clayton, Shanieka Ricketts, Megan Tapper, Cherokee Young, Tia Clayton, Janieve Russell, Oblique Seville, Tajay Gayle, Akeen Bloomfield, Kemba Nelson, Fedrick Dacres, and Traves Smikle.
The events to be contested at the Racers Grand Prix include 100m (men and women), 200m (men), 400m (men and women), 400m hurdles (women), 100m hurdles (women), 110m hurdles (men), triple jump (women), high jump (women), and long jump and discus for met.
Racers Grand Prix returns after three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic
The Racers Grand Prix is part of the World Athletics Continental tour and is returning after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm.
