Chris Carter (triple jumper) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris Carter (triple jumper)

Carter at the 2018 USA Outdoor Championships
Personal information
Born	March 11, 1989 (1989-03-11) (age 36)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Triple jump

Chris Carter, born on March 11, 1989, is an American athlete. He is famous for competing in track and field events. His main event is the triple jump, where athletes hop, skip, and jump as far as they can. Chris set his best personal record in the triple jump in 2014, jumping 17.15 m (56 ft 3.07185040 in) meters. That same year, he became the USA Indoor Champion in the triple jump.

Chris has also represented the United States in big international competitions. He competed at the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships. At both events, he finished in sixth place. Before turning professional, he competed for the Houston Cougars college team. He won the triple jump six times in the Conference USA championships. He also won the long jump twice in that conference.

Chris Carter's Journey in Sports

Starting Young and College Years

Chris Carter was born in Austin, Texas. He started his track and field journey in high school. He competed in jumping events and hurdling. In 2007, he became the Texas State high school champion in the triple jump. That year, he also won the long jump at the Texas Relays. He competed in both jumps at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. He finished fifth in the long jump and won the triple jump. His triple jump at that event was an AAU record, reaching 15.88 m (52 ft 1.07185040 in) meters.

Chris decided to attend the University of Houston for college. He chose it because of its great track and field facilities. Famous athletes like Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell had trained there. In his first year, he won the triple jump at the Conference USA indoor championship. He also placed well in the long jump.

In 2009, Chris focused more on the triple jump. He set a new personal record of 15.89 m (52 ft 1.46555119 in) meters indoors. He then won his first Conference USA outdoor title. He even made it to the final of the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Chris continued to dominate in 2010. He won the Conference USA triple jump titles both indoors and outdoors. He also improved his long jump skills. His final year of college, 2011, was his best. He won four Conference USA titles, winning both horizontal jumps (long jump and triple jump) indoors and outdoors. He set another personal record in the triple jump at the NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship. He finished fourth in that tough competition.

Becoming a Professional Athlete

In 2011, Chris Carter set a new personal record of 16.86 m (55 ft 3.65452756 in) meters at the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This great performance earned him a spot on the national team. He then competed at the Pan American Games and finished sixth.

The next few years had their ups and downs. In 2012, he didn't qualify for the Olympics. In 2013, he placed fourth at both the indoor and outdoor USA Championships. However, he did achieve his season's best jump of 16.69 m (54 ft 8.96161418 in) meters in Beijing.

The year 2014 was a big one for Chris. He won his first national title in the triple jump at the USA Indoor Championships. He set an amazing personal record of 17.15 m (56 ft 3.07185040 in) meters there. He then competed at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships. He finished sixth in the final, showing he was one of the best in the world.

Today, Chris Carter shares his knowledge with new athletes. He coaches Cross Country and Track and Field at Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas.

Chris Carter's Best Jumps

• Triple jump outdoor – 16.86 m (55 ft 3.65452756 in) (2011)
• Triple jump indoor – 17.15 m (56 ft 3.07185040 in) (2014)
• Long jump outdoor – 7.67 m (25 ft 1.84350394 in) (2013)
• Long jump indoor – 7.50 m (24 ft 7.15059056 in) (2011)
• 400-meter hurdles – 53.90 seconds (2007)

Competition Results

National titles

• USA Indoor Track and Field Championships: 2014