Education
Carter is best known in track and field for setting the American national high school record of 81 feet 3½ inches in the 12 pound shot put, adding more than nine feet to the previous record. He set this mark at the 1979 Golden West Invitational track and field meet while competing for Jefferson High School of Dallas, Texas. Number high school athlete has come within four feet of this record since.
In 2004 this record was selected by United States of America Track & Field as the 16th greatest moment in American track and field over the previous quarter century, the only high school mark to make the top 25 greatest moments.
He was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1979.
Carter attended Southern Methodist University on a football scholarship. He was a member of both the 1981 (10-1) and 1982 undefeated (11-0-1) team, as the immovable object in the center of the defensive line.
In track and field, he won four indoor and three outdoor National Collegiate Athletic Association shot put championships. He was part of the SMU 1983 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men"s Outdoor Track and Field Championship team
His lifetime best with the 16 pound shot came in his only defeat at an National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship meet, when in his senior year he launched a throw of 21.76 m (71-4 3/4 feet) to finish 2nd to John Brenner"s collegiate record of 21.92m (71–11 feet) at the 1984 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.
After graduating, he won the silver medal in the shot put at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Los Angeles