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Tuesday, Mar 6, 2012 7:45 PM UTC

Prince Harry Runs With Usain Bolt In Jamaica

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Prince Harry Runs With Usain Bolt In JamaicaBritain's Prince Harry, right, and Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt pose for photographers doing Bolt's landmark gesture after a mock race in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday March 6, 2012. The Prince is in Jamaica as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour in honor of Queen Elizabeth II who celebrates 60 years on the throne. His visit comes as the new prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has called anew for the severing of ties with the British monarchy. (AP Photo/Collin Reid)(Credit: AP)

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — It wasn’t much of a race, but then it really couldn’t have been as the world’s fastest man and Britain’s Prince Harry met up on a track Tuesday in the Jamaican capital.

The prince got off to a false start and was about 50 meters down the track as Usain Bolt bent over with laughter. The Olympic medalist then jogged up to Harry, making one of his signature skyward points for a crowd of onlookers at the University of the West Indies in the Jamaican capital.

Later, the two exchanged pleasantries and talked about running for an audience made up mostly of university students, including many athletes. The prince noted Jamaica’s international reputation as a track and field powerhouse and said it was impressive for a small nation of nearly 3 million.

“Don’t go running off to America, because you’ve got talent your country needs,” he told the crowd.

Harry is touring the Caribbean as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour in honor of Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrates 60 years on the throne. The 27-year-old prince, who made earlier stops in the Bahamas and Belize, arrived by private jet and received a 21-gun salute from members of the Jamaica Defense Force.

His visit comes as the new prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has called anew for the severing of ties with the British monarchy. Jamaica has been independent from Britain since 1962 but still recognizes the queen of England as the titular head of state.

Harry met Simpson Miller for lunch, arriving in a black Range Rover under heavy security. The two embraced and warmly chatted on the steps of a 19th-century Georgian-style mansion in Kingston while about two dozen reporters snapped photos and shot video.

The guests were offered a citrus salad with mango dressing, jerked pork, curried coconut shrimp and Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee.

Reporters waited outside, but Simpson Miller’s spokespeople said she would not speak to the press.

Simpson Miller has professed admiration for the queen, but said political change is necessary to eliminate the vestiges of colonialism.

“I think the fact that August coming will be 50 years since we have gained our independence, that it’s time for us to sever the ties,” she said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

At the track stadium, though, there was nothing but enthusiasm for the prince. University students waved enthusiastically and cheered for him, calling for him to come out of his motorcade. “It’s the first time I have ever been this close to royalty,” 23-year-old medical student Shikera Fearon said as the prince pulled away.

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