May 9, 2008
Duluth News Tribune

Carter darts to two titles
By Andy Greder

ELK RIVER, Minn. — Josh Carter kept a Duluth high school sprint tradition alive Saturday.

The Duluth Denfeld senior became the third straight Duluthian to win the 100-meter event at the Section 7AA track and field boys meet.

Carter won the 100 in a school-record 10.98 seconds and the 400 in 50.27 seconds at Elk River High School.

In 2006, East’s Garrett Cora took the section title in 10.91 and the Minnesota Class AA championship in 11.35.

In 2007, Central’s Chris Anderson won the section in 10.97. In the state finals, Cora finished fifth and Anderson seventh.

“Chris Anderson and Garrett Cora inspired me a lot,” said Carter, who placed second in the 200 in 22.66.

The Class AA state meet is June 6-7 at Hamline University in St. Paul. The top two finishers in each event plus those matching qualifying standards advanced Saturday.

Carter missed last year’s section meet because of a two-day school suspension, but Denfeld coach Frank Huie said Carter has matured a lot in a year.

The 18-year-old now has a B scholastic average and focuses his attention on running.

“He is highly motivated,” said Huie, who also coached Carter in football. “He didn’t get his goal last year, but he worked extremely hard for [Saturday].”

Last year, the 5-foot-10, 140-pound Carter was seeded No. 1 in the 400 and No. 3 in the 100 and 200, but didn’t compete because of the suspension.

“I’m just glad he made it [to state],” Huie said.

Carter was focused Saturday.

“I was asking myself on the [drive] down, ‘Am I really as fast as I think I am? Am I able to run as fast as these kids?’ ” Carter said of his first section finals. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I kept worrying myself.”

Carter recited “I’m the quickest,” a line from Jamaican Asafa Powell, who set the 100-meter world record of 9.74 last September.

On Saturday, Carter got a second chance and made the most of it.