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Donald Quarrie
A Sprinting Legend

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Donald Quarrie | image source: jamaicans.comDonald Quarrie | image source: jamaicans.com

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

In the realm of track and field, certain athletes transcend their era, leaving an their mark on the sport's history. One such figure is Donald Quarrie, a Jamaican sprinter whose extraordinary speed and graceful stride propelled him to greatness during the 1970s and early 1980s.

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On February 25, 1951, Donald O'Riley Quarrie was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Whitfield Town, where he grew up, was where he first discovered his passion for running. Quarrie recognized his natural sprinting talent at the age of nine, and he swiftly rose to the top of the local track competitions. Coaches at Kingston College, a famous high school in Jamaica with a thriving athletics program, became aware of Quarrie's talent. He was given a scholarship to go to the school, and it was there that he started developing his sprinting abilities.

18-year-old Quarrie qualified for the Jamaican 100-meter team for the 1968 Summer Olympics, but he hurt himself during training and was unable to compete. He went to the United States the next year after receiving a scholarship for the University of Nebraska. There, his ability to sprint gradually improved. Quarrie shocked his more seasoned rivals by winning the gold medal in both the 100 and 200 meters in the 1970 Commonwealth Games. With his leadership on the Jamaican 4 100 m relay team, he won his third Commonwealth championship.

The Pan American Games in Cali the following year saw Quarrie repeat his sprint double. Despite Quarries' unofficial electronic time of 19.86, his hand-timed 200 m time of 19.8 tied Tommie Smith's world record of 19.83. Quarrie, one of the favourites for the next Olympics in Munich, sustained injuries once more there. He did compete in the 200 m, but he pulled a muscle during the 200 m semi-final and had to stop.

Quarrie replicated his success from 1970 by winning the 100- and 200-meter races in the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. He was the first competitor to successfully defend either title. He again tied the 200 m world record (19.8) the following year. In 1976 in the California Relays at Modesto Junior College, he also tied the 100 m record with a hand-timed time of 9.9. He was one of only a handful of athletes to have held both marks at the same time.

After winning the AAA 100/200 titles in 1976, Quarrie was finally able to compete at the Olympics without suffering any injuries. He first qualified for the 100-meter final, which he won before Trinidadian Hasely Crawford passed him. Quarrie won the 200 m race in 20.22 by taking the lead as the field emerged from the turn.

He won his third consecutive 100-meter title at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, although he was disqualified from the 200-meter race due to a cramp attack. After being involved in an automobile accident the year before, Quarrie's ability to compete in his fourth Olympics in Moscow was in question. He was able to participate after recovering in time, however, he lost in the 100-meter semifinals. In the 200 m, he was unable to defend his title, but he did make the final and take third place to add a bronze medal to his tally.

By 1984 Quarrie’s injuries seem to have taken their toll and he was eliminated in the heats of the 200 m event at the Los Angeles Olympics. Nevertheless, he captured his fourth Olympic medal with the Jamaican 4x100 m relay team, which came in second place to the Americans. In September 1984, he competed in his last competitive competition, a 200-meter run in London, where he placed third.

At the age of 31, Quarrie gave up competitive athletics in 1982. He wanted to concentrate on other endeavours because he had accomplished everything he could in the sport. After his athletic career was over, Quarrie went on to work as the technical director of Jamaica's national athletics program, where he was instrumental in the growth of many of the sport's best competitors.

Jamaica is continuously affected by Quarrie's legacy today. He is a well-liked person in the nation and continues to serve as an example for many aspiring athletes. In 2018, he published his autobiography, "Running With Purpose," in which he uses his own words to describe his life and work.

Quarrie has achieved success on and off the field; a statue of him is proudly displayed outside the National Stadium of Jamaica's entrance. Additionally, Eastern Kingston is home to Donald Quarrie High School, which carries his name. Musicians have also praised Don; Joe Gibbs and The Guerillas wrote the reggae song "Tribute to Donald Quarrie" as one example.

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References & Sources For Donald Quarrie

  1. The Untold Story Of Jamaica’s Sprint Legend - Donald Quarrie - All Sports Jamaica. (2023, March 2). All Sports Jamaica. https://www.allsportsjamaica.com/the-untold-story-of-jamaicas-sprint-legend-donald-quarrie/
  2. Donald Quarrie : California Sports Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Donald Quarrie : California Sports Hall of Fame. http://californiasportshalloffame.org/inductees/donald-quarrie/
  3. Lee, O. (2004, March 17). Sports Heroes: Donald Quarrie. Jamaicans.com. http://jamaicans.com/jasports_donquarrie/

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