of Houston graduate where he was Two Time All-American in the triple jump. Carter was a member of the USA World Indoor Team in 2014, where he finished sixth in the event. We had a chance to sit down with him and chat about his experience as a world-class athlete.Get To Know Chris Carter
Q: What events do you compete in?
do you compete in?
A: Long and triple jump
Q: How did you get into track & field?
& field?
A:
My cousin and I use to run circles around the house and he realized I
was pretty fast so he asked if I wanted to run track. I asked him if he
meant racing on the train tracks, and then he introduced me to a summer
track program.
.
Q: Were you involved in any other sports growing up?
A: Football, powerlifting, cross country, and tennis
Q: What's a typical training day like for you?
day like for you?
A: On a running day I would do a few 150s, some light plyometrics and then hit the weight room.
.
On
a jump day I would warm up with different bounding drills, then do half
approach jumps (distance varies on time of season), and then finish
with a series of different bounds for 50 yards.
Life Outside The Sandpit
Q: What's life like for you outside of competition
A: If
I'm not training, I'm either coaching my athletes from Atascocita high
school, training other athletes, or at school teaching students. When I get free time outside of that I hang out with friends and
girlfriend.
Q: What made you decide to go into teaching?
A: In 2012 I was being coached by Tom Tellez and he noticed how I was
always trying to help and teach my teammates how to become better
athletes. I also informed him that I was looking to one day become a
head track coach at a university. He knew that I would be struggling
with the lack of support I would get only training and that I should go
into teaching and coaching.
by Tom Tellez and he noticed how I was
always trying to help and teach my teammates how to become better
athletes. I also informed him that I was looking to one day become a
head track coach at a university. He knew that I would be struggling
with the lack of support I would get only training and that I should go
into teaching and coaching.
Q: How do you balance teaching with being the best jumper you can be?
teaching with being the best jumper you can be?
A:
I just envision teaching and working as something I have to do in order to
compete. Kind of like the pass and play rule that my student athletes have
to abide by, except I also hold myself accountable for doing all of my
workouts correctly with proper effort no matter how tired I am from the
other half of my life.
for doing all of my
workouts correctly with proper effort no matter how tired I am from the
other half of my life.
Q: What is something that you have learned from teaching that has helped you with your jumping career?
jumping career?
A: I learn something from my kids that I use for my
own jumping career at least once a week. Whether it's something mental
such as me telling them "hey, relax, just have fun" or something
technical that I may have been having problems and realized how to
explain it to myself.
at least once a week. Whether it's something mental
such as me telling them "hey, relax, just have fun" or something
technical that I may have been having problems and realized how to
explain it to myself.
Chris Carter's Meet Prep
Q: What's your typical daily routine during the day of a meet?
A:
1) Wake up and stretch
2) Go outside and do a warm
up
3) Eat breakfast
4) Lay competition gear out (to get my mind in competition mode )
5) Watch TV
6) Turn on music and Cut hair (reason twitter name is @cartercutz)
7) Take a shower and head to the stadium 2 hours prior to first call
Q: Is there any specific song or type of music you listen to before a meet?
A:
I have a playlist for
track meets with music from Drake, Young Jeezy, Future, and a few other Hip Hop artist. This year's song for me is "Legend" by drake. Motivates
me to go be legendary in the pit.
Q: Do you have a favorite food or meal that you eat before a meet?
A: No particular meal for meets. It's hard to find consistent restaurants
with the variety of places you travel for track meets.
Looking Ahead
Q: What are you looking forward to as the season continues?
A: First thing is to make the world team. After that I want to put myself
in the best position I can to medal at the World Championships.
Q: Where do you feel you can improve in the triple?
A: My take off. Up until last week I hadn't had anybody to consistently watch me, and Friday
I finally got the help I needed to get the rhythm I need. The run up
is the most important part of the triple jump and the take off is
second, so I feel if I improve my take off I'll be better.
Q: Where do you hope to be by seasons
end?
A: I'm hoping to be around 17.50m. I feel
I've trained enough to do that, I just need to have everything click
together technically.
The Carter File:
Events: Triple jump, Long jump
PB's 17.15m, 7.68m
Born: Hearne, TX
College: University of Houston
