The FAMU Relays may return in 2025 first-year track coach Garfield Ellenwood II told the Orange & Green Strike Zone podcast recently. If this holds true, it would be the first time the popular event has been held since 2021.
First, however, Ellenwood said the track would require some upgrades to put on a quality meet. “We need to make sure that the surface is smooth, and so that we can run events in either direction (in the event of the wind). At the end of the day, teams want to go to a meet where they can get good times to qualify for the NCAAs and Olympics. The upgrades would also help us to be able to run an efficient meet. When it returns, we want to be able to do it right,” he added.
Ellenwood also said, "we just did a site visit with the AAU junior Olympics with the hopes of hosting that event on our track in the future.” Again, they provided a list of upgrades they need to see in order for us to be considered.
In its heyday, the FAMU Relays was one of the premiere track and field events on the east coast attracting top-tier teams and talent from across the United States over two days. It was nothing for the event to attract 70, or more, college and high school teams.
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| Pete Griffin Track & Field Complex |
FAMU hasn't hosted a home track meet at the Pete Griffin Track and Field Complex in the past two years. The track surface was last replaced in 2013 at a cost of $700,000, and the complex had minor upgrades in 2009.
The 5,000 seat track and field complex opened in 1980.
Ellenwood says he is working to rebuild the FAMU track program and return it to a championship caliber program. Ellewood said, "he had applied for the head coaches position three times before eventually being hired." He took over the program in January 2023.