Edwin Allen High School’s sprinters Tia and Tina Clayton have now become professional athletes.

This means they can now begin to earn from their performances on the track.

STAR Sports understands that the twins were being sought by agents from three major equipment brands for shoe contracts, but decided a week ago to sign with Nike. It is understood that Nike officials met with the Claytons, their mother, and their coach Michael Dyke in western Jamaica last Friday to formalise the contract.

The deal also means they have signed with the MVP Track Club, where they will now be coached by Stephen Francis. He is the former coach of Olympic sprint gold medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah.

The Claytons will also study at the University of Technology.

Tina clocked her first sub-11 second time at the JAAA National Junior Championships at the National Stadium last month. She ran a national junior 100m record in 10.96 seconds.

Tia is also a record holder, having joined Tina, schoolmate Serena Cole, and Hydel High’s Kerrica Hill in Nairobi, Kenya to set the world under 20 women’s 4x100m relay record at 42.94 seconds last year.