2026 Western Relays cancelled over track availability, say organisers

The 2026 staging of the Western Relays has been cancelled due to uncertainty over the availability of the GC Foster College track, organisers announced on Thursday.

"We regret to announce the cancellation...,” the organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

The meet, long regarded as one of the premier platforms for showcasing and developing regional athletic talent, was scheduled for February 14.

According to the organisers, the track at GC Foster is slated to undergo resurfacing, but with no confirmed start date for the project, they had no choice but to cancel this year’s staging. Track resurfacing typically takes three to four weeks to complete.

“Given this timeline, we felt it would be unreasonable to ask our loyal teams and supporters to wait without clarity on whether the meet could be staged within its traditional and allotted time frame,” the statement continued.

They added that, considering the extensive planning, logistics, and lead time required to successfully host the meet, there was little to no flexibility to proceed under such uncertainty.

This would have marked the eighth year the Western Relays was being staged outside of western Jamaica, as the Montego Bay Sports Complex track remains in need of repairs.

Formerly known as the Comets Relays, the event has traditionally been held on the second Saturday in February since its inception in 1978.

- Ashley Anguin

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