Usain Bolt Track Faces Darkness

The University of the West Indies Mona campus's Usain Bolt track is plagued by darkness, with limited lighting affecting athletes' training sessions.

What happened?

National commentator Ricardo Chambers shared video footage of the facility, showing the stadium in near darkness, with athletes struggling to see. The video, filmed at 7:30 p.m., highlighted the issues at the track, which was named after Usain Bolt in 2010. Athletes like Oblique Seville and Zharnel Hughes train at the facility under Usain Bolt's former coach, Glen Mills.

Why it matters for Usain Bolt

The lack of lighting is a serious concern, especially for field events, where visibility is essential. Two-time Pan American Games champion Fedrick Dacres expressed frustration over the issue, which has continued for six to seven years. Dacres pointed out that the lights went out in 2019, and the situation has worsened since then.

What comes next?

The University of the West Indies Mona Academy of Sport acknowledged the lighting challenges and stated that they understand the importance of adequate lighting infrastructure. Ricardo Chambers took the issue to the authorities, seeking clarity on the situation and the delay in fixing the lighting. As of 2026, the track remains in a state of disrepair, with athletes forced to adjust their routines and balance academics and training schedules. And the situation has led to accidents, with athletes getting injured due to the lack of visibility. But the university has promised a major upgrade to address the issues. So the athletes wait for a resolution, hoping that the track will be restored to its former glory. The University of the West Indies Mona campus had a vision for the track when it was dedicated to Usain Bolt in 2010. But the current state of the track is far from that vision, with athletes struggling to train in dangerous conditions.