The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is considering the upcoming Racers Grand Prix as a potential platform to host relay qualification events following a disappointing showing by Team Jamaica at the World Athletics Relays held in Guangzhou, China, from May 10-11.

The meet, scheduled for June 7 at the National Stadium, could become a critical staging ground as the JAAA seek to secure spots in key relay events for this year’s World Athletics Championship, which is set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from September13-21.

The relay events qualification window for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo started on February 25, 2024 and ends on August 24, 2025.

Ian Forbes, first vice-president of the JAAA, told the Jamaica Observer that a formal approach is being planned to request the inclusion of qualifying races for three specific events, the men’s 4x100m, the women’s 4x400m, and the 4x400m mixed relays at this year’s Racers Grand Prix, following those teams’ failure to qualify from the World Relays.

“That is a possibility and we are hopeful that once that is done, the organiser will be able to facilitate it in their programme,” Forbes said. “We are hoping that if that can be facilitated, we will be able to at least get things rolling. We are open to all options, all suggestions, and I think that would be a prime opportunity to put something together there once the organiser can facilitate it.”

Glen Mills, chief organiser of the Racers Grand Prix, confirmed his willingness to assist the JAAA once a formal request is received.

“Whatever I can do to facilitate them, then we will,” Mills said.

The urgency follows a tough campaign at the World Athletics Relays, where the Jamaicans failed to qualify for three events to this year’s World Championships. In Guangzhou, the Jamaicans secured spots in the women’s 4x100m, and the men’s 4x400m, respectively.

The JAAA came under fire last year after the men’s 4x400m team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, an issue Forbes noted they are determined not to repeat, while pointing out that his association was somewhat disappointed with the team’s overall performance at the World Relays.

“I think that there are some positives, but of course, there were some negatives as well in terms of the persons who made themselves available,” Forbes said. “It was a little disappointing that we didn’t have more persons available, whether due to injuries, collegiate schedules, or timing close to the relays. We had misfortunes, technical issues with baton changes, and athletes picking up injuries both before and during the championships.”

He highlighted that the JAAA will be moving with purpose to ensure that all of the country’s relay teams are qualified for their respective events before the cut off date for the World Athletics Championships.

“We will have to ensure that we put on some events which would be recognised by World Athletics or seek other organisations to put on those meets,” Forbes said.

“We need to get these qualifications in place as quickly as possible, even before our National Championships, or worst-case, shortly thereafter to ensure we meet the World Athletics timeline.”

In order to qualify for the remaining relays, Jamaica must hold top 16 times in the respective events at the end of the qualification window on August 24.

Germany’s Jessica-Bianca Wessolly (left) competes with Jamaica’s Tina Clayton in the women’s 4x100m relay heat as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce makes the exchange at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou25 in Guangzhou, China’s Guangdong province, on May 10, 2025. The women’s 4x100m relay team finsihed third in the final and have qualified safely to the World Athletics Championships in September. (Photo: Wang Zhao)