Wolmer’s expand track and field programme

Veteran track and field coach Michael Carr hopes to make a name for Wolmer's Girls' School in middle-distance events and has added Philip Davy to their coaching staff to broaden the base as the programme grows.

Carr has conditioned several sprinters that have represented Jamaica at the junior and senior levels, having excelled for Wolmer's at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs), where he wants to improve their performance with the addition of Davy.

"We are expanding our programme to be more competitive at Champs. We want to improve on our sixth-place finish from last season and be the top team in the Corporate Area," Carr said.

He is one of the longest-serving high school coaches currently, as he has been at the helm of the Wolmer's track and field programme for over three decades, but is yet to win a title, although churning out track and field standouts such as Olympic Games and World Championships gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jonielle Smith, Janeek Brown, Shauna Helps, Jody Ann Muir and Danille Dowie.

These athletes are from Carr's sprint programme, but he hopes that Davy will guide him in building the middle-distance programme at Wolmer's. Davy has a wealth of experience in middle distance, long distance, throws and jumps, having performed exceptionally at Manchester High and St Elizabeth Technical.

Wolmer's middle-distance athletes are already making their marks this season, with good results in 5K road races. They are led by Janeail Henry, formerly of Holy Childhood High, and the talented Christassia Pearce, who is from Lyssons Primary in St Thomas.

Henry is in lower-sixth form and according to Carr, a national junior coach who has been on several overseas assignments, some as head coach, both she and Pearce choose to attend Wolmer's without coercion.

"I did not go out and recruit these athletes, as they opted to come to the school, and coming to Wolmer's was like divine intervention," he said.

Henry has already won two 5K events this season, with her latest win coming last Sunday at the CB UWI 5K Run/Walk, where 13-year-old Pearce was the fourth female to finish.

Pearce was highly recruited by St Jago and Edwin Allen High, but got her Primary Exit Profile examinations results for Wolmer's and decided to stay with her school of choice.

"Even getting coach Davy was also like divine intervention, as I wanted him a very long time ago to be a part of the programme, but nothing happens before the right time.

"Spreading our wings now means getting more points at Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, which also means finishing closer to the top," said coach Carr.