There might be no world outdoor championships or Olympics this year, but it is still a huge year for athletics worldwide, and for Bahamian athletes looking to make their marks.
The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) is anticipating a busy summer for its athletes — from the NACAC Under-18 (U18) and Under-23 (U23) Championships and the world under-20s to the CAC and Commonwealth Games, and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships.
All of the teams will be finalized in the coming days, with immediate focus on the BAAA Combined Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championships and Invitational, scheduled for June 19-21 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
BAAA President Drumeco Archer said at a press conference on Wednesday that enthusiasm and optimism are high ahead of the summer meets. There are various ways for Bahamian athletes to qualify for the various meets.
“We have had some world class performances — both on the track and in the field events, junior and senior, and that bodes well for LA2028 [2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California]. This is a very exciting time for Team Bahamas,” said Archer. “What you would see that is happening how is a renaissance of track and field at all levels. Our athletes are recording some fantastic performances. We’re looking forward to a very exciting track and field nationals, where we will present our best athletes, and we look forward to strong representation on all of the national teams this summer.”
Following the nationals, the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) U18 and U23 Championships would be first on the agenda for internarional meets, set for the Independence Day holiday weekend, July 10-12 at the Sport Complex Una Nueva Historia in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
Athletes to be considered would have qualified following the CARIFTA Games in St. George’s, Grenada, and show fitness at the combined nationals which is the final qualifier.
Next up for junior athletes would be the World Athletics Under-20 (U20) Championships, the 21st edition, set for August 5-9, at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Athletes to be considered would have a qualifying period of March 8 to July 26, 2026, to reach standards set by World Athletics.
“We are particularly excited about the junior program where we have so many wonderful athletes,” said Archer. “We expect about a 20-member team for the World U20s and a sizable team for the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships. Our junior athletes have had exceptional years and we expect that to continue.”
Athletes for two of the three senior meets — the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Commonwealth Games — will be confirmed by the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC). The BAAA simply make recommendations based on regional and international rankings.
As it stands now, there is a quota of 10 track and field athletes for the Commonwealth Games, five men and five women, and 14 track and field athletes for the CAC Games, seven men and seven women.
The 25th CAC Games are set for July 24 to August 8, 2026, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the 23rd Commonwealth Games will be held from July 27 to August 1, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland.
“The BAAA have submitted recommendations, and in due time, the Bahamas Olympic Committee will confirm the names for the CAC and Commonwealth Games,” said Archer. “The athletes who have been recommended were selected based on regional rankings, as it relates to the CAC Games, and international rankings from World Athletics, as it relates to the Commonwealth Games. We expect strong representation, and it’s important to note that the same athletes can’t take part in both games. The best athletes who are available to us will represent The Bahamas.”
For the Commonwealth Games in particular, there was a long list of athletes that was created from as early as March — before a number of senior athletes would have started their outdoor seasons. From that list, the recommendations was trimmed down to 10, taking into consideration athletes who would have withdrawn due to injuries and athletes who would have recorded exceptional performances in 2026. Therefore, the combined nationals is not a qualifying meet for the CAC or Commonwealth Games.
However, all athletes receiving subvention, or seeking to be added to subvention, and athletes seeking to be considered for national team selection, must compete at the combined nationals.
Another international meet, with Bahamian representation, that is not reliant on results from the combined nationals is the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships. That event is set for September 11-13 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
The athletes competing at the inaugural ultimate championships will be invited by World Athletics based on global ranking points. The top 16 athletes for most of the events in the World Athletics Rankings are set to be selected. So far, just two Bahamians are in the quota — Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Devynne Charlton, who have competed in three Diamond League meets apiece this season.
Once again, almost all of the notable Bahamian athletes, juniors and seniors, are expected to be in action at the BAAA Combined Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championships, and Invitational, June 19-21, at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
