Let's salute the legend - Mills

Racers Track Club president and head coach Glen Mills is calling on fans to show their support for retiring sprinter Usain Bolt at this year's Jamaica National Racers Grand Prix meet, while noting its commitment to driving the growth of track and field in the island.

Bolt will compete in his final race on Jamaican soil at the June 10 meet inside the National Stadium in what is being dubbed 'Salute to a Legend', and Mills says the meet provides an opportunity for Jamaican and international fans to pay homage to the track icon ahead of his final international event, the IAAF World Championships in London.

Joining Bolt at the meet will be world and Olympic stars Mo Farah, David Rudisha, Wayde van Niekerk, as well as Yohan Blake, Christian Taylor, Javier Culson, among other top draw local and international athletes.

"We have demonstrated what we are all about," said Mills. "Anyone who was at the 2016 meet saw what our standard was and what we want to achieve and this year we can guarantee we will surpass that."

"We are honouring one of Jamaica's greatest sons. Jamaica is not new to legends. We have had Marcus Mosiah Garvey, we have had Robert Nesta Marley and we have Usain Bolt," added the world-revered track coach.

"In putting together the Racers Grand Prix each year, we endeavour to make a special contribution to the development of track and field in Jamaica, and we would like the meet not only to provide competition for both local and international stars, but we are looking carefully at the impact it can provide to the development of the sport in Jamaica," Mills added.

BIGGER AND BETTER

"This meet promises to be bigger and better. This year's edition is entitled 'Salute to a Legend'. Racers Track Club is extending an invitation to Jamaica and the rest of the world to join us in a celebration to honour the legend, Usain Bolt," said Mills. "Never has there been one so charismatic, one so dynamic, one so dominant, one so brilliant and one so fast.

"He's the greatest sprinter of all time, a true Jamaican patriot who will make his final strides in his native land. Racers Grand Prix provides the opportunity for a nation to show its love for 15 years of international glory, pride and joy given to us by Usain Bolt," he noted.

Twenty-one events will be contested at the meet, which gets started at 6:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale online on May 1.