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James Carter, 22-year-old |
SunSpot: Welcome James and thanks for joining us. Would you mind starting our chat with telling us with how you have kept busy since qualifying for the Olympics this past weekend?
James Carter:
It’s been busy. I went out one night to walk around the mall, other than that, it’s been real busy. I was in the McDonalds’ drive thru recognized me.
Sai, Baltimore: What’s up James? This is Dameon Johnson’s brother (from Maryland Elite) Just want to know how does it feel to know that you will be going to the Olympic games knowing that only a few people even get to go to the games?
James Carter:
It’s something I’ve been pushing for for a while and it feels good.
Jeremy, Charlotte, N.C.: Where have you traveled previously and have you ever left the country before? Are you excited about going “Down Under”?
James Carter:I’ve competed over in Greece, Czech Republic and Switzerland prior to the Olympic trials and I’m very excited about going “Down Under.”
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 A mother’s pride: Olympic qualifier James Carter answers a question while his mother, Marilyn Knight, looks on. (SunSpot photo by Kristy Haller) |
Elliott, Los Angeles: I’m attending Hampton this fall as a freshman. I was wondering what their sports program is like, because I am a High School football/track prospect that messed up in school and got lucky in attending Hampton. I also run the hurdles, 110 & 300 meters, my senior year best was a 14.7 in the 110’s and a 46.2 in the 300’s, and I’m only 5’10 1/2, and I’m worried that my transition from high school hurdles to college hurdles is going to be hard since I’m short. I’m asking you what you think I should do since I think you are a great athlete and I think my running style is similar to yours, just a lot slower. So if you have time, I would like some advice on what I should do when I get there as far as training in the off-season, however I will also be playing football, hopefully slot receiver or tailback until I grow some then I can move to the outside with the real burners. My other question is do you have any tips on increasing my 40 speed, and or hurdle technique?
James Carter: First, which sport do you like more between football and track? At Hampton, I’d say focus on football I think their program is much better than the track program. The 300 hurdles are same height as high school, but the high hurdles are 3 inches higher. Just do a lot of drills and practice. For the 40 speed, basically work on technique and running.
Reverend Al, Baltimore: I’ve witnessed your development over the past 10 years. It is my prayer that within the depths of your spirit, come to realize that God has prepared you and is using you as a demonstration of faithfulness, long-suffering, and persistence because “the race is not given to the swift, but to those who endure.” Stop past Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church on Sunday either 8 a.m or 11 a.m. so we may pray for your success, not only as an Olympian, but also as a young man who has avoided the “traps” along the way. We are praying for you.
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Questions: James Carter, a Baltimore native, reads over questions with senior sports producer, Tara Finnegan Coates. (SunSpot photo by Kristy Haller) |
James Carter:Thanks for the invitation.
Chanchai, Baltimore:
Congratulations on your hard work. Since you will be represented not just an American in Australia but also a Baltimorean and Marylander, what message do you want to bring along to convince the world that Baltimore or Maryland, for that matter, are ready to bring Olympic games to the richest diversity part of the regions?
James Carter: Actually, Baltimore is an area that doesn’t seem like a big track area but track meets around here always sell out. The meets at George Mason in Fairfax, Va., sell out like the Grand Prix meet for indoors. So, it wouldn’t be a problem having a crowd.
Amy, Catonsville: Do you feel even more pressure to perform now that hundreds of cameras will be placed on you?
James Carter:Pressure is self-inflicted, so, no.
Satya, Baltimore: Congratulations!!! I’ll be rooting for you when you run in Sydney. Which athletes were your role models growing up?
James Carter:It was Michael Johnson, but ever since I started running at bigger meets and meeting new people, I’ve taking a liking to different athletes like Donovan Bailey and Allen Johnson just to name a couple.
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Qualifier: James Carter, a 22-year-old native of Baltimore and Mervo High graduate, qualified to compete in the summer Olympic games last weekend. (SunSpot photo by Kristy Haller) |
Justin, Crofton: Do you think Marion Jones will win 5 gold medals?
James Carter:If she wins 5 I won’t be surprised, but I think she’ll win four. She still has some trouble in the long jump.
Emily, Baltimore: There was a recent report on the horrible status of high school athletic equipment in the City and the lack of facilities for City high school students. What would you want to say to City Officials about this and what would you tell student athletes that currently have to deal with inadequate facilities, like you dealt with at Mervo?
James Carter:There’s a lot of talent around the city, but with the lack of facilities, a lot of people get discouraged. To the athletes, I would say just try to do the best with what you have. We didn’t have a track, we had to go to a different track. So, don’t worry about the trip you have to make, just the work you have to do.
Trina, Baltimore: How does your family feel about your going to the Olympics?
James Carter:Everybody is overwhelmed with joy.
SunSpot: What was your reaction when you figured out you qualified for the Olympics?
James Carter:Shocked, but happy. Actually, I closed my eyes the last couple of steps and I heard the announcer say, “James Carter has the third and final spot.” I laid down on the track a little bit. An official asked me if I was OK, and I told him I was just happy. He laughed and helped me up.
Matthew, Chestertown: What will you do between now and the Olympics to stay sharp? How hard will it be to remain calm and focused when you compete in your event?
James Carter: Basically just keep training and do what I’ve been doing. I train 1-1 1/2 hours a day. As of late I haven’t been doing what I am supposed to. I warm up, stretch, do drills and then jog afterwards to let my body cool down.
I just try and pay attention to myself and not worry about anyone else. This coach taught me a trick: Get a watch and close your eyes, start the watch and visualize yourself running. When you finish running the race in your head, you stop the clock. The time on the stopwatch should be a second or two off of what your actual running time would be.
John, Baltimore: I’m a Mervo Alumnus (1977), and I’m proud to know a Mustang will be going to the Olympic Games in Australia. Can you talk a little about how the Mervo program helped develop your track and field skills?
James Carter:There were a lot of people there that were faster than me and I just put it in my head that I wanted to beat them. My coach, Freddie Hendricks, was probably one of the first to see that I had some potential. I ran JV my freshman year and he wanted me to run varsity and at the end of my freshman year I ran varsity and did well. At the end of the year, he told me, “I told you so.”
Lucy, Baltimore: What has been your family’s response to your success? Do you have siblings? What advice do you have for African American youth?
James Carter: I have a seven-year-old sister, Sumaya. The whole family is happy and supportive. I told some kids at Douglass (from Baltimore Track and Field Alliance) that if there is something you want to do, just put your mind to it and do it. Don’t get discouraged.
Mike, Baltimore: Besides winning a medal, what would you like to get out of your Olympic experience?
James Carter: I haven’t thought about that yet, I just want to place well. I’m not a favorite in the eyes of most people to do anything because I’m new and I don’t have the fastest times in the world. So I’m just going to do the best I can. I watched the tape of
the race (400 intermediate hurdles) in Sacramento, and after I cleared the last hurdle, I pulled away from (Joey Woody) and the crowd gave a roar of surprise. I just wanted to finish strong. For some reason I came off that last hurdle and outran five other people.
Mike, Baltimore: Hey James congratulations,
did you ever attend Carver High or Lemmel Middle because you look familiar? What neighborhood are you from?
James Carter:No, I grew up on the Northeast side in Kenilworth Park.
SunSpot: Are you talking to anybody about endorsements?
James Carter:Not yet. My agent, Sam Caldwell, has been out of town. I’m supposed to go run over in Europe in August to compete in Zurich and Monaco.
SunSpot: What do you plan to do in Australia beside Olympic activities?
James Carter: See a little bit of Australia. I think the team leaves August 19 for Sydney. I just found out I was chosen for the relay pool (4 x 400, 4 x 100), which is when coaches select different people to run on a relay and see if you are good enough to run on a relay at the Olympics. The top three 100 and 400 indivdual races automatically qualify to run on a relay and the coaches now have to find a fourth for the relay and three alternates per race. So there two races in Australia where I’ll be trying out for a spot on a relay team. The 4 x 400 is almost guaranteed a gold medal since Michael Johnson is on there, that would be one I would like to run.
SunSpot: Thanks for visiting James. Good luck at the Olympics.
