Carter takes 1st in triple jump at Junior Olympics
| Friday, Jul 30 2010 11:31 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jul 30 2010 11:34 PM
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Ridgeview High's Johnny Carter sails trough the air while competing in the long jump in the CIF state finals last spring at Clovis Buchanan High.
SACRAMENTO -- Co-All-Area track and field Athlete of the Year Johnny Carter, who will be a senior at Ridgeview High, leaped 49 feet, 41/2 inches Thursday to win his age group in the National Junior Olympic Championships at Hughes Stadium.
Carter was competing for Team Raw (Ready And Willing), won the Young Men's Division by more than a foot better than second-place David Shaw of the Sandhills Track Club in Carthage, N.C.
The achievement is the latest in an impressive career for Carter, who won a state triple jump title as a freshman and placed second the past two years.
Last year, Carter also qualified for the Junior Olympics in the Intermediate Division boys triple jump, posting a mark of 49-01 3/4 in Region 14 competition. That mark would have won the Junior Olympic gold medal in Greensboro, N.C., but he chose not to make the trip across the country. The meet concludes Sunday.
Other local placers were Erik Garcia of the McFarland Track Club, who placed fifth in the Intermediate Division 3000 meters (9:08.51); and Asia Chesley of Team RAW, who was 7th in the Youth Division long jump (16-91/4).
