Xavier Carter facts for kids
Carter at the 2006 NCAA Championships
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 8, 1985 Palm Bay, Florida, U.S. |
| Residence | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 170 pounds (77 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Event(s) | 200 meters, 400 meters |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 60m: 6.74 s (Fayetteville 2005) 100m: 10.00 s (Eugene 2008) |
Xavier Carter (born December 8, 1985) is an American former professional track and field athlete. He was a talented runner and football player. Xavier went to Louisiana State University (LSU). There, he was a star on the track and field team. He was also a member of the football team. Before LSU, Xavier Carter graduated from Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, Florida. He is known for being one of the fastest sprinters in the 200 meters race. His best time in this event is 19.63 seconds.
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High School Sports Star
During his time in high school, Xavier Carter was amazing at both track and football. He won many awards and titles.
Track and Field Achievements
Xavier's high school track career was very impressive. He won nine Florida state titles. He also earned ten regional, district, and county crowns. Plus, he won nine Cape Coast Conference titles. Carter won state titles in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. He did this in two years in a row, 2003 and 2004. This made him the only athlete in Florida history to achieve this. His time of 45.44 seconds in the 400 meters from 2004 is still a Florida High School record.
In both his junior and senior years, Carter was named "Athlete of the Year." These awards came from groups like USA Track and Field, Nike, and Gatorade. He also received the National High School Coaches Association award for Track and Field.
Football Talent
After his high school track career, Carter also showed his football skills. He played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was also named to USA Today's All-USA high school football team. Experts considered Carter a top football recruit. He was listed as one of the best wide receiver prospects in the nation. Carter decided to play football and run track at Louisiana State University.
Record-Breaking Runs
In his junior year of high school, Xavier ran very fast times. He ran the 100 m sprint in 10.38 seconds. He finished the 200 m sprint in 20.69 seconds. His 400 m time was 45.88 seconds, which was the best in the United States for 2003. As a senior, Carter improved his times even more. He ran the 100 m in 10.29 seconds and the 200 m in 20.49 seconds. His 400 m time was 45.44 seconds.
He also set a national high school record for the indoor 200 m. His time was 20.69 seconds. This made him the first U.S. high school athlete to run under 21 seconds in that event.
College Success at LSU
At the 2005 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Xavier finished second. He ran the 200 m finals in 20.08 seconds. The next year, at the same event, Carter achieved something incredible. He won national titles in four different events. He was the first person to do this since Jesse Owens in 1935 and 1936. Xavier was also the first athlete ever to win both the 100 m and 400 m races on the same day. He became known as "X-Man." This nickname came from the first letter of his name. It also came from his special victory salute. He would cross his forearms to make an "X."
Professional Track Career
After his amazing success at the NCAA championships, Xavier made a big decision. He decided to become a professional track and field athlete. This meant he would not finish his last two years of college sports. He signed a deal with Nike on July 28, 2006. This deal was set to last until the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Fastest 200m Race
On July 11, 2006, Carter ran an incredibly fast race. It was at the Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland. He ran the 200 m in 19.63 seconds. At that time, it was the second fastest 200 m race ever. As of July 2025, this time makes him one of the fastest men in the history of the 200-meter dash. Only a few athletes have run faster. These include Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Michael Johnson.
Later Career and Olympics
Xavier's 2007 season was difficult because of a knee injury. He fully recovered by the start of the 2008 athletics season. In his first 400 m race of 2008, Carter ran 44.70 seconds. This was at the Reebok Grand Prix. He even broke a track record. However, he said these races were just practice for the 2008 Olympic Trials.
Carter competed in the 100 m and 200 m events at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials. These trials were held in Eugene, Oregon. Carter set a new personal best in the 100 m heats, finishing in 10 seconds. However, his performances were not enough to make the Olympic team. He finished last in the 100 m final. He also qualified for the 200 m final but did not start the race. This meant he missed the chance to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Personal Life
Xavier Carter is a father to two daughters. His first daughter, Xoë Carter, was born in 2012. In 2014, he celebrated the birth of his second daughter, Xi'Ana Carter.
Track and Field Records
Personal Best Times
Here are Xavier Carter's best times in different running events:
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 meters | 6.74 | Fayetteville, Florida | February 26, 2005 |
| 100 meters | 10.00 | Eugene, Oregon | June 28, 2008 |
| 200 meters | 19.63 | Lausanne, Switzerland | July 11, 2006 |
| 400 meters | 44.53 | Sacramento, California | June 10, 2006 |
