Carr returns to winning ways at Scottish championship

May 22 2008 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

LOCAL triple jumper John Carr bounced back from illness to record an excellent victory in the Scottish Championship.

The 20-year-old former Airdrie Harriers athlete was struck down by a thyroid problem last year but proved he is on the mend with a 14m 55cm leap at the event at Meadowbank Stadium.

It’s far from his personal best but was a welcome return to action after a difficult few months.

His problems started when he was diagnosed with an over-active thyroid. Radioactive treatment reversed the problem but he was left with an under-active thyroid.

But medication has brought the problem back to an equilibrium and now he’s glad to be back in action.

He said: “I was glad to be competing again and hopefully I can build on that.

“I’m feeling a lot better now but it’s going to take a bit of time for me until I’m completely healthy. The overactive thyroid meant I was producing way too many hormones. My heart-rate was sky-high and I’d be alert and buzzing in the morning but tired and lethargic at night. I also lost weight.

“Over the Christmas period, it went the other way and I could barely drag myself out of bed in the morning. I’d also put on weight.

“But the medication is working now. It might be something I have to take all my life but it’s under control and I’m a lot happier.”

On his performance in Edinburgh, Carr was just relieved to be back in action.

He said: “I’ve been working with the national jump coach Dan Ritchie and that’s been a real help.

“We just took stuff we’ve been working on, like a longer run-up, into the event.

“It’s not a great distance. Three of my jumps were fouls so I’m getting used to the new techniques.

“But I’ve got a British League event on June 8 against some top-class opponents so hopefully I’ll be in better shape for that.”