Keeping up with Xavier Carter is much easier said than done. Whether it's on the football field or the track, the Palm Bay High School (Melbourne, FL) senior is always traveling at the speed of light.
With 40-meter dash speed of 4.3 seconds he is a blur on the football field. A vertical jump of 40+ inches and ability to run all sprint distances on the track, Carter brings a unique blend of strength and speed that is rarely seen at the high school level. This natural athletic ability has college coaches drooling.
In addition to being one of the best track and field athletes in the country, the two-sport standout is also a highly sought after football player. In fact, some analysts have him ranked as high as the number one high school wide receiver prospect in the country. Schools like Miami, Florida, Florida State and recent national champion LSU are all hoping that the 6-foot-3-inch Carter will sign on the dotted line.
His college decision will not solely be based on football. Carter has every intention of burning up the collegiate track scene in the same way that he has dominated the Florida high school ranks. With such a bright future, many might believe that the defending Class 3A 100, 200 and 400-meter champion doesn't have much left to prove during his final high school track season.
"We are very excited about the track season," says Palm Bay Head Coach Alonzo Jefferson. "We want to set the records that we weren't able to set last year. We hope that this season is as successful as last season."
Last year, Carter broke onto national scene with sizzling performances at the state meet including a state record time of 20.69 in the 200-meters, the second fastest time in the nation amongst high school athletes last season. His performances in national events were equally impressive. His coming out party took place at last April's Arcadia Invite (Arcadia, CA) were he became the first athlete to triple in the storied 35-year history of the meet, winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes.
With personal bests of 10.38 in the 100, 20.6 in the 200 and 45.6 in the 400, Carter is the most versatile sprinter in the country. However, Coach Jefferson feels that Xavier has plenty of room for improvement.
"We have high goals for this season," says Jefferson, who also happens to be Xavier's uncle. "We really believe that he is capable of going under 20.5 for the 200, 45 low for the 400 and 10.25 for the 100."
Only time will tell if Carter, also known as the X-man, will have another record breaking season. Those that work with the X-man on a daily basis, feel that it's his mental toughness that separates him from the rest of the pack.
"He is awesome to work with," says Jefferson. "He has a real knack for the mental aspect of the sport. He understands what it is going to take to get to the next level."
It looks like the next level for the speedster may include such accomplishment as high school national champion, NCAA champion and who knows—maybe Olympic champion.