Jonathon Gault on Michael Carter a must read. Definitely the greatest high school record.

Gainesville/Miami guy wrote:

It surprises me that no one else has posted a commentary on this. I was a distance runner - and coach thereof - but I am awed and fascinated by excellence in any field. As an oldtimer, I well remember Carter's feat - and his later Olympic silver and long, excellent NFL career. But Gault has provided lots of details about his high school career that I never knew or had forgotten. Almost entirely self-taught/coached. An extremely focused and hard-working athlete. And almost certainly clean. (I urge the skeptics to read Gault's piece before commenting.) Plus he seems like a genuinely good person/husband/father.

Welp that settles it, marks > medals

So the mods just delete anything critica of the work of the authors. How insecure and pathetic is Gault and rojos

I agree. this article was terrific.

Ghfhgbb wrote:

So the mods just delete anything critica of the work of the authors. How insecure and pathetic is Gault and rojos

There is ZERO to be critical about that outstanding article.

Could it be they deleted it because you were being a drunk a$$hole?

Outstanding story and Michael Carter's descriptions of his training were a great insight. Thanks! This record is still hard to fathom.

This and the Beamon piece are the two best things that have ever come out of Letsrun

By far.

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Carter’s record turned 40 on Sunday. Outside of the rarely-run 10,000 meters, it is the oldest high school record on the books, male or female.

Al little love from the oldest HS record on the books.... 10,000 meters: 28:32.64 (6M: 27:36.4)

Rudy Chapa (Hammond)!!

I am surprised more big strong fellas in U.S. do not put shot. A person can be a great athlete as an Am. football player but still rot on the bench. Shot put: the more work a big and strong athlete devotes to shot put, improvement is guaranteed unless injury. Am. football involves a complicated playbook, especially on offense,

This documentary came out earlier this year and contains excellent interviews with Carter and many of his contemporaries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsDKukxFds

I'm just hear to say well-done on a great article. That was a fantastic read on an incredible feat by Carter.

PoisonIvy wrote:

This documentary came out earlier this year and contains excellent interviews with Carter and many of his contemporaries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsDKukxFds

Thank you!!!

If anyone had told me I would watch a 55 minute video about a shot putter, I would never have believed it. But this is fascinating. All four of the interviewees are very good. I especially liked the first, Sammy Walker, and, of course, the last, Michael Carter himself. I won't try to explain why I genuinely loved (and I choose that verb deliberately) the way he comes across in the interview. See for yourself.

I believe that photo was from the USA vs USSR Jr meet which was held at Boston University in the summer of 1978. Attended the meet with my brother. The only other person I remember competing at he meet was Herb Wills (10,000m) who had a nice career at FSU and who still does the commentary at a lot of XC meets in Tallahassee.

Hulster wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Carter’s record turned 40 on Sunday. Outside of the rarely-run 10,000 meters, it is the oldest high school record on the books, male or female.

Al little love from the oldest HS record on the books.... 10,000 meters: 28:32.64 (6M: 27:36.4)

Rudy Chapa (Hammond)!!

Completely agree! This would win national championships in most countries including the US plenty of years! And I'm talking Senior, Open division. See results of the recent Canadian Champs. When was the last time any US HSer came within a minute of this? 2 minutes off is very rare. Ant debate about the greatest HS record is disrespectful to Chapa. Likely to never be broken!

JG-Fantastic article! Thank you for bringing MC’s career and amazing series events to life.

Gainesville/Miami guy wrote:

It surprises me that no one else has posted a commentary on this. I was a distance runner - and coach thereof - but I am awed and fascinated by excellence in any field. As an oldtimer, I well remember Carter's feat - and his later Olympic silver and long, excellent NFL career. But Gault has provided lots of details about his high school career that I never knew or had forgotten. Almost entirely self-taught/coached. An extremely focused and hard-working athlete. And almost certainly clean. (I urge the skeptics to read Gault's piece before commenting.) Plus he seems like a genuinely good person/husband/father.

+100 best thing those brothers did was bring him in. Great article.

kanny wrote:

Fantastic article - thank you to JG!

Jon- I have to say, reading that piece reminds me, once again, that you continue to be *far and away* the best thing on this site.

You're so good you almost make up for the *torture* of having to slog through the 90% of LRC message-board posts that come from junior-high-school imbeciles if you want to try and find anything that might actually be worthwhile (because the Brojos refuse to lift the forum out of the sewer it's in by compelling people to register).

Seriously, a great piece. Thank you, once again.

(And I guess I should give the boys a nod for having the brains to hire you.)

malmo wrote:

Gault should be commended. When a writer keeps you hanging onto every word, about a topic you care little about, he's done a great job.

George, my thoughts exactly. Excellent piece.

(btw, a week ago I caught Josh Smith (with Robben Ford's son playing bass) at a tiny place in Pasadena, all of 60 ppl in there!). Reminded me of good times...

Can you imagine how interesting track and field would be if football coaches allowed athletes to compete . I believe Terry Bradshaw held the HS javelin record for many years. Instead of doing track these egomaniac coaches have them doing spring football practices. If a schools star football player was setting national records people would definitely take notice.

Also forgot to add it would free up scholarships for distance runners. You could probably field a great T&F team with just the football team.