Grange Confirms World Athletics Certification for National Stadium Track

World Athletics has formally certified the running surface at Jamaica’s National Stadium, Sport Minister Olivia Grange disclosed on Tuesday.

Speaking in the House of Representatives during her Sectoral Debate presentation, Grange said the governing body’s approval settles months of uncertainty over whether performances on the facility would count for official purposes.

Workers finished laying the distinctive black, green and gold synthetic track in March 2025. Even so, athletes and officials had questioned whether times clocked there would stand without formal sign-off from the global authority.

Addressing lawmakers, Grange drew on a recent letter from World Athletics. “I now have the duty to quote from a correspondence which we recently received from World Athletics. The message included some technical language, but I will just read the sentence that we are all waiting to hear – ‘all synthetic surface field test measurements comply with World Athletics requirements’,” she said.

Grange explained that the Class One facility rating means the stadium now meets the standard required for record-eligible competition. “This means that the National Stadium track — the beautiful and unique black, gold and green track — is certified. The Class One facility certification means that the record setting times that can now be run on our modern track will be fully recognised,” she added.