A new track will be installed for a brand new event - that's the approach the Bahamian government is taking leading up to the inaugural World Relays to be held here in The Bahamas in 2014.
The world relays are set for May 24-25, 2014 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, but the problem is, the track inside the complex is not Class I certified, which is required to host such a global event. There are over 200 member federations in the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), and quite a number of them will be represented at the world relays. A total of eight world championship spots in the sprint and mile relays, in each gender, will be up for grabs as it was recently confirmed that the top eight will qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.
Before all of that can happen, the track itself must be brought up to standard. General Manager of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Jeffrey Beckles said that Italian company Mondo has already begun the process of refurbishing the track.
"Mondo and its team began the process, and we're very pleased that the work has started," he said. "Our new objective is to be able to deliver the track on time, so that we can have it finished in time for a test event in April, and then of course the big relays will be here in May."
That test event in April might just turn out to be the 2nd Annual Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational (CBBI), which is set for April 12 at the stadium. Whether work on the new track will be completed in time remains to be seen though. Bahamian national record holder in the men's 400 meters (m) and the 800m, Chris Brown, has already vowed to bring top talent here to these shores for the second year in a row. This year, a number of former World and Olympic champions graced these shores for the one-day meet, and it is promised to be even more prestigious in year two.
As for the track at the stadium, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson admitted that some errors were made in the initial installation. He is hopeful that the work that is already underway will be completed in a timely manner and up to IAAF Class I standard.
"You should have the inspectors, the IAAF and the engineers on site, on each occasion, during the process of installation so that it can be done properly with international guidelines," said the minister. "We will have those three parties working together with our team, so you will have personnel from the Ministry of Works, the NSA, international inspectors, the IAAF and Mondo on the scene all the time. This marks our initial move on the world stage in terms of hosting world-class track and field events. This will be an IAAF Class I certification track that can host any kind of world event."
Athletes will compete in the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1,500m relay events, in both genders, over two days of competition at the inaugural world relays. With no Bahamian meeting either the 'A' or 'B' qualifying standard for any of the longer individual races, it's safe to say that The Bahamas won't have representation in those relay events, and if there is representation it certainly wouldn't be competitive against the world's best.
According to Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' (BAAA) President Mike Sands, the IAAF should release entry standards for the relay events in short order.
Currently, it is rumored that the entire event would run at a cost of about $5 million to the Bahamian government, but that was before it was revealed that the track itself would be uprooted. At this point, the total cost is unknown, but it will undoubtedly be in the millions. Sands said that he doesn't see the total cost being a hindrance, because it has already garnered the approval and support of the Bahamian government, which is a major stakeholder in the event. In addition, the IAAF World Relays are scheduled to be held here in The Bahamas in 2015 as well.
As far as participation is concerned, a number of top Bahamian athletes are expected to be home to compete. With the event being held in late May, there is a cloud of suspicion surrounding the collegiate athletes though. For instance, sprinter Shavez Hart might have school commitments, and even though she is a professional athlete now, Shaunae Miller is still taking classes at the University of Georgia which might interfere with their availability for the event.
Former World and Olympic Champion Jeremy Wariner, who was here in The Bahamas for a couple of days before leaving town yesterday morning, said that it is up to USA Track & Field to decide whether or not he will be a part of the U.S. team for the inaugural world relays.
"If I'm chosen, I'll be here and I'll give it all that I have," he said. "The Bahamian people have always been respectful, and they love the sport of track and field. I'm looking forward to being a part of it and getting a run in the new stadium."
Wariner said that he ran here in The Bahamas in 2002 as a junior athlete, and would love to get a run in the new stadium as a senior. As for the run by The Bahamas' Golden Knights at last year's Olympic Games in London, England, he said that he was impressed with what he saw and it was good for the sport for another country to step up to the challenge that was presented by he and his American teammates.
"They ran smart. They knew who they would match up well with on each leg. They just went out there and ran the same race that they ran in the prelims," he said. "They fought hard, and we haven't see that out of a lot of teams lately. For them to go out there and compete the way they did, it was great to see."
Wariner is still one of the top quarter-milers in the world, and he could very well be a part of the American team for the world relay championships. The 2014 IAAF World Relays will be just the second summer global athletics event to be held in the Caribbean, following the 9th IAAF World Junior Championships which were held in Jamaica in 2002.

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