quarrie made the jamaican 100 m team for the 1968 summer olympics as a 17-year-old, but he injured himself in training, and could not take part. he moved to the united states and attended the university of nebraska and later the university of southern california, where he graduated with a degree in business and public administration. there, his sprinting capabilities gradually increased. at the 1970 commonwealth games, quarrie won the gold medal in both the 100 and 200 m, surprising his more experienced competitors. anchoring the jamaican 4 × 100 m relay team, he pocketed a third commonwealth title.