High jumper Raymond Richards achieved a stunning leap of 2.31m at the Queen's Grace Jackson Invitational on Saturday, January 25, 2025, which would have been the best height cleared by a Jamaican in almost two decades and a world-leading mark for the year. However, the performance will not be officially recognized by World Athletics due to the meet not being submitted to the World Athletics Global Calendar by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
A student-athlete at the University of Technology, Richards, cleared 2.31m at the meet held at the National Stadium in Kingston, the best height by a Jamaican high jumper since Germaine Mason cleared that height in 2006.
The 2.31m clearance would have also placed Richards at the top of the world rankings for the year. Unfortunately, an administrative lapse means that his efforts will not count toward official rankings, records, or qualification criteria.
In December 2022, the World Athletics Council implemented a rule requiring all competitions to be listed in their Global Calendar for performances to be officially recognized. Member federations, including the JAAA, are responsible for ensuring that local meets are submitted 60 days in advance of the event, accompanied by a fee payable to World Athletics.
David Riley, the JAAA's liaison for the World Athletics Global Calendar, confirmed that the Queen's Grace Jackson Invitational was not submitted, but laid the blame at the feet of the meet organisers.
"That is correct. His mark will not register. Each meet organizer has to request in writing every year to the JAAA for their meet to be listed in the WA Global Calendar. An application has to be submitted 60 days from the date of the meet. (The) listing cannot be done retroactively. They (meet organisers) were notified in November via email and did not respond."
Riley also outlined that the JAAA also hosts a Calendar Conference to which all meet organizers are invited. The information was also shared at the Calendar Conference which was held on November 2, 2024. The communication via email sent in late November, he said, was a last reminder and organisers were advised to "treat the matter as urgent".
The Queen's Grace Jackson Invitational is just one of several Jamaican meets held on World Athletics-approved tracks that were not submitted for official recognition in 2025. The list includes, the McKenley-Wint Classic, SprintFest 100m, Douglas Forrest Invitational, Queen's Grace Jackson Track and Field, the Youngster- Goldsmith Classics, Western Relays, Central Champs, Western Champs (finals at G.C. Foster College), Throws Fest 1, Throws Fest 2, Throws Fest 3, Throws Fest 4, Big Shot (where 2019 World Champion silver medalist Fedrick Dacres achieved a world-leading discus throw) and King of the Ring.
Richards’ leap at Queen’s Grace Jackson Invitational would have earned him significant ranking points on the international stage, potentially boosting his qualification prospects for future championships. Instead, the achievement is relegated to an unofficial mark, diminishing its value in global athletics.