It’s a rarity for a Jeffersonian to compete in the USA Track & Field Championships, but that’s what 2020 Greene County High School graduate Carter Morton of Jefferson will be doing July 31 and Aug. 1. The soon-to-be sixth year senior at the University of Northern Iowa will be competing in the decathlon at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. He qualified for this meet with a score of 7,882 points at the 2025 Drake Relays in Des Moines, and Morton enters the USATF Championships with the eleventh highest score by an American this year.

Dave Paulsen is the Director of Track & Field at UNI and he told Raccoon Valley Radio the UNI program has had quite a few athletes in the past get to this level, but it’s not common to make it and still have college eligibility remaining. “It’s an indication that he’s done a really good job of putting himself in there, and with him being a First Team All-American indoors (in the heptathlon) and carry that to qualify for this meet outdoors, and break the school record in the decathlon outdoors, which is a really strong record, definitely puts him in the conversation for one of the top decathletes in the United States.”

Carter is the son of Deb and Chad Morton of Jefferson. His parents, other family members, friends, supporters, and his UNI coaches will all be in Eugene to watch him compete against the best decathletes in the USA. Check TV and streaming options to watch the USATF Championships. The entire meet goes through Aug. 3 with the decathlon competition July 31 and Aug. 1.