Carter’s Shot Put Prowess Was Legendary

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Carter’s Shot Put Prowess Was Legendary

In January 1983, Michael Carter of SMU picked up a shot for the first time in 18 months.

By June of that same year, he was looking to regain the national title in that event at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Houston. 

Carter – who had won in 1980 and 1981 – wasn’t able to try for a third in 1982 when he missed the entire indoor and outdoor seasons recovering from a football injury he suffered in October 1981. He was the starting nose tackle for the Mustangs, who were undefeated in 1982 and only lost one game in 1981.

After the cast on Carter’s right knee came off in January 1982, Carter showed his competitive side, telling John Eisenberg of the Dallas Times-Herald: “As soon as I get the go-ahead, I’m going to bust my butt like I never did before. I’m going to make my legs stronger than they ever have been.”

Meanwhile, another strong throwing figure emerged in 1982 with Carter’s absence – Oregon’s Dean Crouser, who not only won the NCAA shot that year but the discus as well. And the day before the 1983 NCAA shot final, Crouser looked great, repeating his discus win with a meet-record 65.88m (216-2) while Carter was 10th (Carter placed runner-up two years earlier in 1981).

Carter made this shot final his from the beginning. He took the immediate lead with a 20.22m (66-4¼) effort in Round 1 and then followed with the winning have of 20.90m (68-7) – his best since a pre-injury 21.25m (69-8¾) that set an NCAA Indoor meet record in 1981. Crouser, the defending champion, finished third behind John Brenner of UCLA.

As it turns out, Carter’s points were crucial to SMU, which eked out a two-point victory over Tennessee to complete a sweep of indoor and outdoor team crowns.

“I knew in the back of my mind that Crouser could hit a big one at any time,” Carter said after the meet. “I tried to improve after the second throw, but I couldn’t. I wanted to keep my string alive; my goal is eight straight.”

At this point, Carter had six national titles in the shot put – three each indoor and outdoor. He got to seven with his indoor victory in 1984, but his attempt for eight was part of an epic duel with Brenner that will be the subject of its own forthcoming moment in this series. 

Alas for track & field fans, Carter’s last shot put competition came when he earned the silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. He then joined the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, with whom he was part of three Super Bowl champion teams.

Michael’s two daughters also won NCAA titles – Michelle (Texas), the 2006 indoor shot put champion; D’Andra (Texas Tech), the 2009 discus champion – making the Carters the first family with three NCAA Division I track & field champions. In 2016, Michelle earned the family’s first Olympic gold medal, also becoming the first American woman to win the shot put.

posted: October 29, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.

This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.

To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.

The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!