by RJ Michaels

• 2026 NACAC U18 & U23 Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, from 10–12 July
• GAA cited heavy logistical and financial burdens associated with travel visas for Mexico
• Initial 25-member roster cut by more than half

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) is scheduled to convene the 2026 NACAC U18 & U23 Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, from 10–12 July.

Grenadian coaches, athletes, and parents, however, have been left to navigate deep disappointment following sweeping reductions in the national delegation selected to represent Grenada at the event.

While the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) has not yet published an official revised travelling list, reports circulating within the local track and field fraternity indicate that the initial 25-member roster circulated on Thursday, 11 June 2026, may have been cut by more than half.

The casualties of the budget and administrative squeeze include some of the country’s most decorated in-season performers. Among those reportedly removed from the final manifest is the reigning InterCol, National, and Whitsuntide Champion over 100m, Phillip Mitchell.

Similarly, horizontal jumper Crystophe Calliste has been omitted from the final travel party, despite having reportedly been pulled from the OECS Championships squad in St Kitts specifically to preserve his fitness for Mexico.

The cuts also extended to senior collegiate standouts and regional medallists. Sprint hurdler Shantay Augustine, who secured 5-time All-American honours over the 2026 indoor and outdoor collegiate seasons before returning home to defend her Whitsuntide title, was informed of her removal from the team. CARIFTA 800m Silver Medalist Nicholas Frederick was also removed from the final lineup among others not yet named.

For the affected student-athletes, the reversal represents a significant blow to their developmental progression and international exposure.

“The NACAC deselection was a punch because I’ve also had a great season,” an affected athlete stated on the condition of anonymity. “The exposure and competition would’ve been another shot at the national record for me, and I would’ve given a good showing regardless. But again, they want their best team, and I assume I’m not one of the best, so…”

According to stakeholders, the justification provided by administrators focused primarily on financial and logistical bottlenecks.

“They said it was a visa issue and too expensive to carry everyone, so they pick who they want to go with,” another omitted athlete noted.

Beyond immediate financial constraints, track and field enthusiasts and technical coaches argue that these recurrent selection crises point to a deeper structural flaw: the timing of Grenada’s domestic athletics calendar.

Currently, the GAA hosts its National Championships in March of each year, with the Whitsuntide Games in May serving as the traditional curtain-closer for the local season. This system forces selectors to rely on historical data or early-season fitness marks rather than current, mid-summer performance levels.

This structure runs counter to global scheduling trends. In 2019, World Athletics established a unified National Championships Window, intentionally restructuring its World Rankings system to award significantly higher-ranking points to athletes competing in their respective national championships during this specific summer window. The system was designed to help member federations attract their elite overseas talent back home when they are at peak competitive fitness.

Critics argue that a structured championship set later in the summer would result in a better judge of talent and current fitness. Such a framework would allow administrators to select optimal, varied teams to represent Grenada at closely scheduled meets. Local stakeholders have long clamoured for an extension of the domestic season to include an official senior or open championship within the global window. However, outside of a brief, unsuccessful attempt in the early 2000s, there has been little visible institutional movement to modernise the schedule.

In defence of the late adjustments, the GAA cited the heavy logistical and financial burdens associated with securing the necessary travel visas for Mexico. Specifically, administrators pointed to the high costs of transport and accommodation required to send a large contingent abroad to capture the biometric data necessary for the visa application process.

However, consular regulations appear to challenge the absolute necessity of these travel costs for the entire roster. According to Mexican travel authorities, any individual holding a valid, multiple-entry visa, regardless of nationality, issued by Canada, Japan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, or any member state of the Schengen Area is legally permitted entry into Mexico without an additional Mexican visa. With several overseas-based student-athletes on the initial roster already holding active US student or tourist visas, stakeholders have questioned the scope of the administrative bottleneck.

The association reportedly convened an emergency meeting with parents and athletes on Thursday, 2 July at 6:30 pm to outline these financial hurdles. The definitive, difficult news, however, arrived the following morning via a broadcast message distributed over WhatsApp.

The text delivered to the deselected athletes read:

“Good morning, please be informed that due to challenges outlined in our meeting last evening, it became necessary to revise the NACAC U18/U23 team. After careful consideration, you have unfortunately been removed from the final team. We sincerely apologise for this disappointment and understand that this news may be difficult to receive.

We would like to thank you for your commitment, dedication, and the effort you have invested in preparing for this competition. We encourage you to remain focused on your training and continue working towards your goals. There will be many opportunities next season to earn selection to future national teams, and we are confident that your hard work will continue to place you in contention.

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you every success in your continued athletic development. Kind regards.”

With the delegation now drastically pared down, the remaining members of Team Grenada are scheduled to depart this week for Mexico, leaving a significant portion of the country’s top junior talent behind to look toward the 2027 season.

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