Jamaica has sent a strong team to the NACAC Athletics Championships, and for most of them, it’s more important than just another regional meet, but could be a season-saving one as they try to qualify for the World Championship in Tokyo.

The three-day North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Athletics Championships is set to begin on Friday and end on Sunday in the Bahamas.

Of the 41 athletics team, more than half of them are using this meet to try and qualify for the World Championship in September.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) made some last-minute changes to the team giving them a chance at achieving the qualifying marks in the disciplines.

Since the Jamaican Championship, athletes have been busy trying to qualify themselves and while a few like Adrian Kerr (200m) and Ashanti Moore (200) were successful, the majority are in a race against time as the cut-off date is August 24, 2025.

With all the relays basically safe now, plus there are some athletes in a position to make the World Championship based on the World Ranking Quota, everyone is trying to improve their positions.

Several national champions and podium finishers are behind the eighth ball, while persons finishing behind them are in a better position based on the World Ranking Quota and could steal in ahead of them on the team to Tokyo.

Some high-profile athletes are sweating, including Fedrick Dacres, Rusheen McDonald, Christopher Taylor, Chad Wright, Tajay Gayle, Jevaughn Powell, Delano Kennedy, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Adelle Tracey, Gabrille Mathews Tyrice Taylor.

Of particular interest is McDonald, who came close to the 400m qualifying mark of 44.85 but ran 44.89 at the Jamaican Championship after slowing down. He has not gone close since and is under tremendous pressure to deliver.

However, the quota system allows 48 athletes for the 400m, and he is currently ranked at 45. But that can change any minute.

Taylor, who is trying to dip below the 20.16 qualifying mark. He has gone 20.28 this season but is currently ranked 37^th of the 48 quota for the 200m.

Dacres, the 2019 World silver medallist, is currently ranked 20^th in the 36 quota, and he will be hunting the qualifying mark of 67.50m to be safe. He has a season’s best of 66.33m and a personal best of 70.78m.

Dacres is trying to join national champion Ralford Mullings, whose 69.31m is way above the mark. Olympic champion Roje Stona would have been safe, but he is in the process of switching allegiance to Turkey and missed the Jamaican championship.

The national 800m champion Tyrice Taylor is also behind the eighth ball as he is ranked 81^st with the quota stopping at 56. His season’s best time of 1.45.23 is outside the qualifying mark of 1:44.50.

National female 800m champion Beckford will be looking to lower her time of 2:00.23 minutes to below the 1:59.00 mark. Natoya Goule-Toppin, who was behind Beckford at the Jamaican Championship, qualifies based on her 1:57.43 achieved in September 2024.

All eyes will be on The Bahamas as the Jamaica fans eagerly await to see if their runners will punch their tickets to Tokyo, Japan.