Davontè Howell and Rasheem Brown are set to return to the track for the second annual Barbados Grand Prix as defending champions.
The Caymanian sprinting duo will once again take to the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on 4 July after leaving their mark at the inaugural meet last year.
Last year, Howell, an Olympian and Junior Pan American Games record holder, represented team Outlaws and gave his extended family in Barbados a spectacular show by powering through the finish line to capture first place in the men’s 100-metre sprint with a time of 10.15 seconds.
Meanwhile, Brown, who competed for team Lions as a last-minute addition to the squad, clocked a season-best time of 13.50 seconds to clinch first place in the men’s 110-metre hurdles, a breakthrough performance that helped propel the Lions to a second-place finish overall in the team standings.
Howell and Brown, who received an invite to compete again back in March, will once again line up for their respective events – the 100-metre sprint and 110-metre hurdles.
No pressure felt
Despite entering the event as defending champions, both athletes remain humble and grounded, without feeling the pressure.
“I don’t like to put unnecessary pressure on myself. I just need to go out there and do something I’ve already done. Keep it simple,” Howell said.
“My main goals and expectations for myself this year are to defend my title in front of my family and become the first to run nine seconds on Bajan soil,” he added.
Brown, echoing a similar message, said, “I don’t really see it as pressure; I see it more as an opportunity. Being the defending champion just means the standard has been set, but every year is a new race and a new challenge. My focus is on executing my race, staying composed, and performing at my best when it matters.”
Sharing his current outlook, Brown said, “My main goal is to go out there and deliver a strong, clean race from start to finish. I want to execute my phases well, compete confidently, and put myself in position to perform at my highest level. Ultimately, I’m focused on improving on last year and continuing to raise my standard.”
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