‘An awesome feeling’ Veteran coach Carr overwhelmed by national award

Veteran track and field coach Michael Carr is overwhelmed 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 more than four 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, 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 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.”

He began coaching at Stony 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 Girls in 1987 and has remained a prominent figure in schoolgirl athletics since then.

Carr pointed out that he has no plans to step away from the sport anytime soon.

“As long as I am healthy and able, 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 fruits in many departments in the world, not just for track and field, but also in some exciting and successful careers.”

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.