It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Olympian Michael Fray. He was a talented sprinter, who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.
Michael Fray1
In the 1968 Olympics, he ran the 2nd leg of the 4x100m relay which set the world record of 38.6 in the heats and then broke the record in the semi-final with a time of 38.3 seconds.
He also competed at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and earned a silver medal in the relays. Fray also won a gold medal in 1966 at the Central America and Caribbean Games and a Bronze in the 100m in 1970 in a similar Games.
Michael ran the 4x400m in 1967 at the Pan Am Games. He placed 5th in the 100m final in 1972 in the Munich Olympics which was won by Valery Borzov.
In the finals of the 1968 Olympic 200m event, Michael Fray placed seventh in a race with bronze medalist John Carlos and Tommie Smith who won gold.
He set a US national Junior College 200m record in 1967 while competing for Odessa Junior College. He later enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1968 and was ranked tenth in the world by US Track and Field news.
A graduate of St. Andrew Technical High School, he was the person responsible for discovering Olympian Ruth Williams Simpson while they both competed for STATHS.
Michael was born on September 3, 1947. He will be greatly missed by the athletic fraternity. The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association extends our condolences to his family and friends.
May his soul rest in peace.