LSU’s Carter equals Owens’ feat

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Xavier Carter can claim one of the greatest performances in the history of college track, one so good that it rivals none other than Jesse Owens.

The LSU sophomore became the first person to win the 100 and 400 meters at the NCAA track and field championships Saturday, running down the competition in races just 31 minutes apart.

He finished his day as the anchor of the winning 1,600-meter relay team. Combined with the winning 400 relay team the previous night, he had a share of four NCAA event titles. According to meet officials, Carter is the first to achieve four NCAA victories since Owens won both short sprints, the 220-yard low hurdles and long jump for Ohio State in 1935 and ‘36.

“It’s really not going to hit me until a few weeks later,” Carter said. “Jesse Owens, he’s a legend. He’s the one who started track and field. I feel honored just being put in the same sentence as Jesse Owens.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound sophomore, who also plays football for the Tigers, had personal bests in both individual events – a school-record 10.09 seconds in the 100, followed by a 44.53 in the 400.

“I pretty much had a good day,” he said.

Carter’s magnificent one-man show wasn’t enough to prevent deep and talented Florida State from winning its first men’s team title with 67 points. LSU was second with 51 – 40 of them thanks to Carter.

Auburn won its first women’s crown with 57 points. Southern California was second with 38 1/2 and South Carolina third with 38.

In the women’s 100, South Carolina sophomore Amberly Nesbitt surprised herself with a victory in 11.34. Kerron Stewart of Auburn was second in 11.36 and Carol Rodriguez of Southern California was third at 11.38. Less than one-tenth of a second separated the top five finishers on a sunny day at Sacramento State’s Hornet Field.

Carter had intended to run the 200 and 400, but changed his plans because of the crowded meet schedule.

Carter burst through over the final 30 meters to beat defending champion Walter Dix of Florida State in the 100. He broke out of the blocks slowly and was well behind Dix halfway through the race, but his late burst gave him the victory. Dix, also a sophomore, was second.

His half-hour break went by in a hurry.

“That was tough,” Carter said.