The highly anticipated Barbados Grand Prix is set to make its thrilling debut on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Usain Bolt Stadium, offering a fusion of elite athletics and cultural entertainment.
Conceived by Aren Spencer, a five-time CARIFTA Games medallist and current student-athlete at Baylor University in Texas, the Grand Prix will award US$2 000, US$1 000, and US$500 to the top three finishers in each event, with a US$5 000 prize for the best-performing team. All non-placing athletes will also receive appearance fees, while NCAA competitors will be rewarded in line with collegiate regulations.
In addition, any athlete who sets a new national record in any discipline will earn BDS$5 000.
The meet is officially sanctioned by World Athletics, meaning all performances are eligible for qualification to international championships.
Athletics fans can look forward to seeing standout athletes such as Jonathan Jones, Mario Burke, and Julian Forde of Barbados; Michelle-Lee Ahye and Jerod Elcock of Trinidad and Tobago; Demar Francis of Jamaica; Devonte Howell(born in Barbados, competing for the Cayman Islands); and rising Barbadian sprint talent Kishawna Niles.
The meet itself will feature sprints (100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres), 800 metres, sprint hurdles, long jump (men and women), men’s shot put, a mixed 4×400 metres relay, and a mixed shuttle relay. A one-event-per-athlete policy has been enforced to encourage broader participation, especially from university athletes. It will feature four teams, each formed through a draft system, with a maximum of two athletes per team in each event. To widen participation and the opportunity to win the prize money, especially among college-based athletes, a one-event-per-athlete policy will be enforced.
“This is not just about great performances — it’s about giving our athletes a stage to shine while delivering a first-class entertainment package for the audience,” said Andre Procope, chairman of the volunteer organising committee and a respected veteran in Caribbean athletics.
He added that all surplus funds will be donated to the Athletic Association of Barbados (AAB) to further the development of the sport locally.
The entertainment side of the event will be curated by Ryan Brathwaite, who said the Grand Prix will blend seamlessly into the spirit of the Crop Over season.
“The event is structured to be a full production. Not just DJs—we’re talking live performances, quality live performances. We’re ramping up Crop Over, and we want the best performers leading into the season to be present at the event.”
The Usain Bolt Stadium will undergo upgrades ahead of the event, with seating expanded to 4 500 spectators. A 24-by-15-foot big screen will offer instant replays, and the meet will be streamed live via YouTube, making it accessible to fans around the world.
The meet’s schedule includes the 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, sprint hurdles, men’s shot put, long jump for men and women, a mixed 4x400m relay, and a mixed shuttle relay.
Olympians Gabriel Burnett and Kerry Beckles will be amongst the eight people showcasing their expertise as team coaches. Provisionally running from 6 to 10 p.m., the evening is scheduled to end with an afterparty.
