Professional Career
Shortly after his success at the NCAA championships he announced that he would forego his remaining two years of college eligibility in both track and football to join the professional track and field circuit. He is now represented by the sports agent Mark Block (coach and husband of the former 100 m world champion, Zhanna Pintusevich-Block) of Total Sports Management. On July 28, 2006 he announced a deal with Nike that will run through to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
On July 11, 2006, at the Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, Carter ran what was then the second fastest 200 m race ever, recording a time of 19.63 s. As of September 2011, that time makes him the sixth fastest man at the 200 metre dash ever after Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson, Walter Dix and Tyson Gay.
Carter's 2007 season was marred by a knee injury and it was not until the beginning of the 2008 athletics season that he fully recovered. Competing in his first 400 m race of the season, Carter posted a time of 44.70 s at the Reebok Grand Prix, breaking Kerron Clement's track record by one hundredth of a second. However, he dismissed the importance of the victory, saying that the track meets were only a way of preparing for the 2008 Olympic Trials.
Carter entered for the 100 and 200 meters events at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Carter set a new 100 m personal best in the heats with a time of 10 seconds. His performances were not sufficient for a place in the Olympic team however, as he finished in last place in the 100 m final. He also qualified for the final of the 200 meters trials but did not start, missing out on the opportunity to run at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
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