Competition will be scorching at this year’s Racers Grand Prix, as organisers say young athletic talents Jaydon Hibbert and Roshawn Clarke will be at the National Stadium in Kingston for the track and field event in June.

Hibbert is the most talked about name globally in the men’s triple jump and was seen as a shoo-in to win gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary last year.

However, a hamstring injury sustained on his first attempt in the final of the event, which saw him miss out on a possible podium finish and even a gold medal, having qualified for the final with the largest jump in the event.

The former Kingston College and Arkansas University stand-out recently turned professional after signing a contract with global sportswear giant Puma and is looking to make quite a mark in the sand in the event at the Paris Olympic Games this summer.

Glen Mills, chairman of Racers Grand Prix, is excited to have Hibbert join the lineup of the 15-event meet.

“Jaydon is the most exciting talent we have seen and the top sensation in the men’s Triple Jump. He has an inimitable style and flair that is just infectious. We are happy we are able to provide him the opportunity to compete at the highest level locally in front of his home fans in preparation for the Olympic games,” Mills shared on Thursday (March 14).

Roshawn Clarke, another young Jamaican standout, had a remarkable season last year where he broke the long-standing national 400m hurdles record—previously held by Winthrop Graham—at his first World Championships appearance.

Clarke finished fourth in the final in 48.07s behind winner and world record holder Karsten Warholm. 

Before that, he ran a personal best and World Under-20 record of 47.34s to qualify for the final. It was the first time that Clarke was performing on the senior stage at a global event, and he acquitted himself well among the greats in the event in the sport.

A lot is expected of the 19-year-old who turns 20 just before the Olympic Games. His confidence got a tremendous boost with a season-opening victory in the 400m at the recently held Camperdown Classic.