The collegiate track and field community faces a dire warning from Sam Seemes, CEO of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Speaking at the 2024 USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Florida, Seemes declared that the sport is under immediate threat, with shrinking opportunities, budget cuts, and program eliminations looming large. His remarks carry significant weight for Caribbean athletes, many of whom rely on U.S. collegiate scholarships to launch their careers.

The U.S. collegiate system has long been a cornerstone of development for track and field athletes from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Iconic names like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kirani James, Jereem Richards, and Julien Alfred honed their talents at American universities before achieving international success.

For these athletes, the collegiate circuit not only provides access to world-class facilities and coaching but also prepares them for the rigours of professional competition. Seemes' declaration, however, underscores a troubling reality: the very system that has nurtured such talent is now in jeopardy.

In his keynote address, Seemes outlined four key areas of concern: Threat, Value, Change, and Exposure.

Threat: Seemes did not mince words, stating, “Our sports are under siege. The threats are real and immediate: shrinking opportunities for student-athletes, vanishing budgets, disappearing scholarships, reduced coaching positions, and even complete program elimination.” He attributed these challenges to unsustainable athletic spending and a failure to adapt to evolving metrics of value.

Value: The traditional values of collegiate athletics—mentoring, education, and personal growth—have been overshadowed by revenue generation, media rights, and marketability. Seemes warned, “Our sport’s place in collegiate athletics is not a birthright,” highlighting that track and field must compete with other sports for visibility and institutional support.

Change: Urging immediate action, Seemes said, “The path forward demands transformation. Not incremental adjustments, but fundamental change in how we conduct our sports.” He emphasized that stakeholders must innovate to make track and field more engaging for audiences and broadcasters.

Exposure: To survive, track and field must reinvent its presentation. Seemes called for competitions with “clear narratives, dramatic moments, and real stakes,” moving away from traditional formats that fail to captivate the public.

The potential decline of U.S. collegiate track and field programs would be a seismic blow for Caribbean athletes. Many rely on scholarships to access education and high-level competition, which are critical to their athletic and personal development. A reduction in these opportunities could force aspiring athletes to seek alternative pathways, often with less support and fewer resources.

Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, a two-time Olympic 200m champion, benefited from her time at the University of Arkansas. Similarly, Grenadian 400m star Kirani James, a former NCAA champion, used his collegiate experience as a springboard to Olympic glory. If the collegiate system falters, the next generation of athletes may lose access to this invaluable development platform.

Seemes' speech concluded with a call for courage, creativity, and compromise to ensure the sport's survival. He urged stakeholders to prioritize the spectator experience, create tangible value for institutions, and embrace meaningful change.

“The future of track & field and cross country isn’t written yet, but the window of opportunity is closing,” he cautioned.

For the Caribbean, the stakes are equally high. The region’s rich track and field tradition owes much to the U.S. collegiate system. As the sport navigates these turbulent times, the hope remains that proactive measures will preserve this vital pipeline of talent and opportunity.

The choice, as Seemes put it, is clear: “Will you be part of the solution, or will you watch from the sidelines as our sports fade into irrelevance?”