‘I was not wasting my time’ - OD motivates Michael Carr to continue decades-long career

Veteran track and field coach Michael Carr says he is overwhelmed and honoured to have been conferred with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD) for his outstanding contribution to sport, particularly athletics.

Carr, the long-serving head coach of Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls, described the national honour as the icing on the cake of a coaching career spanning nearly five decades. He also noted that it has provided fresh motivation to continue his work.

“Whenever one is honoured by their country, it must be a good feeling, and that is what I am experiencing,” Carr said.

“I am happy that I am able, at this point in time, to smell the flowers. It also makes me feel motivated, and makes me feel that there are persons out there who have seen your work and have respected what you have done.”

Carr, who has been involved in coaching athletics for more than 45 years, said receiving the honour has reassured him that his years of dedication to developing young athletes have been worthwhile.

“So it is a feeling that words cannot express, but to the powers that be who made the decision, I would like to tell them thanks,” he said.

“For coaching, I have been in athletics for over 45 years, so it is an awesome feeling. It feels like I was not wasting my time, and I have helped generations along the way. So to be awarded with the Order of Distinction, it’s an awesome feeling.”

Carr’s coaching career has included working with several athletes who have gone on to excel at the highest levels of the sport.

“The record speaks for itself. Through my hands came a lot of persons and if you go back, you talk about the Julian Muir, the Shauna Helps coming down, now we have the Jonielle Smith and, of course, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; and now getting on the world stage, my young hurdler Tiana Marshall.”

Carr began his coaching career at Stony Hill All-Age School in 1979 before moving to St Andrew High School for Girls, where he coached from 1981 to 1987. He joined Wolmer’s in 1987 and has remained a prominent figure in schoolgirls’ athletics ever since.

Despite receiving one of the country’s highest honours, Carr said he has no plans to step away from the sport as long as he remains healthy and able.

“As long as I am healthy and able to, yes, I will continue because I love what I am doing and I enjoy moulding the lives of these young ones,” he said.

“I enjoy seeing them going from a seed to a tree and bearing fruit in many departments in the world, not just in track and field, but also in some exciting and successful careers.”

Carr also takes particular pride in the longevity of his contribution, noting that he has coached multiple generations of athletes from the same families.

“I have coached kids and then turned around and coached their kids, and also their kids’ kids; so I am like a grandfather and great-grandfather in the business,” he said.

“I am enjoying what I am doing because I am helping, and that is the greatest part.”

Carr is among four Jamaicans recognised for their contributions to sport as part of this year’s National Honours and Awards.

The other recipients are Howard McIntosh, David Sanguinetti and Donald Walters.