The local track and field community has been dealt a significant blow with the official cancellation of the 2026 Western Relays, originally scheduled for Saturday, February 14. The decision stems from critical uncertainty regarding the availability of the track at GC Foster Sports College, which is slated for essential resurfacing work.

A Lingering Infrastructure Crisis

The upcoming work on the GC Foster track is not a sudden development. The need for resurfacing was formally mentioned during the JAAA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 4, 2025. This infrastructure project was the primary reason for the delay in the official publication of the 2026 Calendar of Events.

While a definitive start date for the construction has not been officially published, reports indicate that the work is expected to begin in February and will last between three to four weeks.

The Decision to Cancel

Faced with a timeline that directly overlaps with their scheduled date, the Western Relays organizing committee determined they had “little to no flexibility”. The committee expressed that it would be unreasonable to ask participating teams and loyal supporters to wait without a clear guarantee that the meet could be staged within its traditional time frame.

“Considering the extensive planning and logistics required… we determined that there was little to no flexibility available to proceed under these uncertain conditions.” — Western Relays Organizing Committee

The committee has issued a sincere apology to all stakeholders and has already turned its focus toward a return in 2027.

A Domino Effect on the 2026 Season

The Western Relays is likely only the first of many events to face disruption. All meets currently scheduled at the GC Foster venue for the month of February are now at high risk of relocation or outright cancellation.

To accommodate the shifting schedule, organizers are looking at a limited number of alternative venues capable of hosting high-level competition, including:

  • The National Stadium

  • Stadium East

  • The Jamaica College Ashenheim Stadium

As the resurfacing window approaches, the JAAA and meet organizers will need to move quickly to secure these alternate tracks to prevent further losses to the 2026 athletic season.