Early Career
Carlton first started track when he entered grade nine at Malton's Ascension of our Lord Catholic Secondary School in September 1990. Born in June 1975, he was 15 years old as of Sept 1 of that year and competed as a junior, most grade nine's compete in the younger midget boy category. With little coaching or training Chambers ran to a 10.84 and a silver medal in the 100m at the O.F.S.A.A. (Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association) in June of '91. The race finished with the first five junior boys within 0.02 seconds of each other.
That year Mark Guthrie of the Brampton Track Club approached the 5'6" sprinter and suggested that he join the club. But a carefree young Carlton didn't show up to most of the practices until May of the following year - 1992. That year going into OFSAA, Carlton relied on his natural ability rather than his training preparation. He won the junior boys 100m in 10.99 and Guthrie knew he has a star on his hands.
From then on Carlton trained more regularly and enjoyed quite a lot of success at O.T.F.A. (Ontario Track and Field Association) meets. At the beginning of the '93 high school track season Carlton was preparing himself with Guthrie for the first of three possible senior boys 100's, as he was only in grade 11 at this time. But the Catholic separate school board had a "work to rule" strike and as a result Carlton's school did not send athletes to OFSAA.
The following indoor season Carlton Chambers trained intently and won a 60m Gold medal at the York University high school Track and Field invitational. Chambers ran a hand-timed 10.2 at the city track meet (ROPSSAA) and he went to the OFSAA ranked #1 in the province. There the 100m record had once been set at 10.55 by Yorkdale S.S.'s Ben Johnson and was later broken by Sudbury LaSalle's Robert Esmie when he ran 10.50 in 1990. Carlton ran to a legal, non wind-aided, time of 10.41 seconds. In the final, Eric Frempong of Martingrove C.I. ran a wind-aided 10.36 to win Bronze, and Dave Tomlin of Grand River ran 10.30 for Silver. Carlton Chambers then claimed the OFSAA Gold with his 10.27w time.
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