Mills mum on Nkrumie Racers speculation

Amid speculation that Kingston College's Bouwahjgie Nkrumie could be heading to Racers Track club next season, club founder and head coach Glen Mills was tight-lipped as to where his future will lie. What he is sure about is the invaluable experience he will gain when he steps on the track for the Racer's Grand Prix this summer.

Mills was speaking at yesterday's press conference announcing the return of the meet slated for June 3 at the National Stadium.

Nkrumie is fresh off a record-breaking performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs), becoming the first schoolboy in history to go sub-10 seconds to win the Class One boys title last Wednesday. He is among those booked to compete at the meet as he focuses on his quest to make the World Athletics Championships team.

When asked if Nkrumie's future would be with Racers, Mills said that is something Nkrumie has to answer himself.

"I am not going to speak for him. You will have to ask him or his coach," Mills said. Nkrumie has not revealed his future for next season although he did say that his immediate future has been determined but has been advised not to say anything as yet.

What Mills has said, however, is that the experience of competing against high-level competition that he will face at the Nationals Senior Championships in June will be good for him.

"Really and truly his objective is the National Championships. So I guess they would want to have a look at him a month before, running against some of the people he might meet and then to see how he fairs," Mills said. "It is a good experience for him."

Mills said that he is heartened by the performances of Nkrumie as well as Hydel High's Alana Reid who became the first schoolgirl to run sub-11 seconds at Champs and now holds the national junior record.

"The future of sprinting in Jamaica has always been great. It is just that we expect so much. But there hasn't been really a period of drought. If the men are down the women are up. It is fantastic. It is never-ending," Mills said.

Confirmed participants for the Grand Prix include World 200m champion American Noah Lyles, World 100m hurdles champion and record holder Tobi Amusan, World 200m champion Shericka Jackson and former World and Olympic 400m champion Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa.