Ramone McKenzie dons a mask during his Calabar days. - File

Ramone McKenzie, the former Calabar High track star, who was known as 'Batman' and had for the past few years been training in Florida, last Friday night celebrated his 23rd birthday at Top Floor in Half-Way Tree with the launch of his own brand of bottled water. Called 'Di Cave', the purified drinking water is to be the first of several entrepreneurial efforts in the pipeline for the 200/400m runner.

"The birthday was planned for 'Di Cave' to be a surprise for my family and close friends," he said.

"It (the launch) was a success because everybody liked the product and they liked the move, because of my age they didn't expect me to do something like this."

training

Planning for the launch of the product began earlier in the year when McKenzie was getting closer to finalising his move back home after training with the Lance Baumann training group in Clermont, Florida, where McKenzie had been for the past four years.

"We've been planning this since about April of this year, but I was overseas and me being overseas meant that I couldn't do a lot of the things that I wanted to do. That was one of the things that helped me make the decision to come back home," said the athlete, who while in high school was involved in some epic battles with World 100-metre champion Yohan Blake and World Championship relay gold medallist Nickel Ashmeade.

McKenzie, whose progress on the track has not been as linear as his two former rivals, has been beset by injuries, but his skills as an entrepreneur are certainly at an advanced stage. "I have a lot more things coming," he said, hinting at a new sports drink, which should be ready early next year, and an ice cream business that is currently in the works.

Sales have been pretty decent since the launch and a number of athletes have also bought a few cases. "My first sale was from my good friend Warren Weir. He bought a couple cases and a few other athletes have bought as well, so it's been going good."

It was his increasing desire to pursue his entrepreneurial ventures and missing home that were among the main reasons why McKenzie moved back home.