Massive Blow for Jamaican Track and Field Star as Ridiculous Error with World Athletics Ruins Multiple Records

In the fast-paced world of track and field, where every millisecond counts and athletes push their limits for the perfect performance, a sudden administrative error can throw off the gear. A year that was supposed to be a breakout in Jamaican athletics looks like it’s in the shadow of a scandal. The World Athletics is on the verge of ruining multiple records. The stakes are high, but who’s responsible, and what can be done to fix it before more records slip through the cracks?

The issue started when World Athletics announced the approved meets to be held in Jamaica. Little did Jamaicans know that around 14 meets were left unapproved. The Jamaica Observer has been told that World Athletics will not recognize the results of almost half of the track and field meets that will be held in Jamaica in 2025. What is the reason behind this?

This is because the Meet organizers did not register their meetings in time for the results to be recognized. The World Athletics will not recognize the Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet where the high jumper Raymond Richards set a personal best and meet record of 2.31 meters, the second-best by a Jamaican male in history and the world’s best thus far this year. So how many meets have been approved after all?

A release issued by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association on January 20 listed just over 20 meets that met the approval conditions, but another 14 or so could not manage the same. Results from competitions that satisfied specific requirements, such as electronic timing and synthetic tracks in all weather conditions, were typically sent to World Athletics automatically and included in their worldwide ranking system. The deputy head of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Competitions Commission and liaison for WA Global Calendar, David Riley, claims this approach was modified in 2022.

However, several meeting organizers have conflicting takes on this. The County of Cornwall Athletics Association and Western Relays stated that they were unaware of the changes initiated for securing meet approval. One meet organizer questioned why the JAAA did not “Use their initiative and submit the list of meets and take the fees out of our affiliation fees.” What is JAAA’s take on this?

According to the JAAA statement, World Athletics established its Global Ranking System on February 26, 2019, to compare athletes from various disciplines and create an objective method of determining the best athletes in each event discipline. Athletes will receive points under this method according to their performance, ranking, and the level of competition at which they obtained those results.

In December 2022, World Athletics approved a rule requiring competitions to be listed in the World Athletics Global Calendar for results to be recognized. This rule, effective from January 2023, mandates that member federations, including the JAAA, submit local events for approval 70 days in advance for athletes’ performances to earn ranking points.

By December 2022, World Athletics approved a rule obliging races to be shown in the World Athletics Global Calendar for performances to be counted. This regulation, which comes into effect in January 2023, prescribes that member federations, such as the JAAA, present local events for approval 70 days before athletes can receive ranking points. How does this process work?

How does the track and field meet approval work?

Every country has to get approval from World Athletics to hold meets, and like any other process of verification or approval, World Athletics works. An application is submitted for every meet with a fee of 35 euros to be recognized by the World Athletics. There are additional requirements to get an approval. What does David Rile have to say?

Riley talked about how the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) plays a crucial role, “Meet organizers (must) apply to the JAAA for sanctioning. That requires at least two weeks from the event. JAAA sanctioning is different from being listed on the World Athletics Global Calendar.” He explained the process further.

Riley further stated, “To be listed on the global calendar, World Athletics requires an application to be submitted 60 days from the date of the event. That application cannot be submitted by the meet organizer, but the JAAA does it on their behalf and is billed for each meet listed. The JAAA requires a written request from the meet organizer 70 days from the date of the event with the 10 additional days used for the internal processes, including invoicing and collection of those fees.”

With this decision of the World Athletics, things have taken an intense turn. Disheartening as it may be for Jamaicans this year, we can only hope for a better future.