EUGENE, Ore. – University of Wyoming senior Scott Carter ignored his No. 13 seed in the men's triple jump field at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, putting on a show with a third-place finish in Eugene on his way to First Team All-American status. Carter leapt 53 feet, 3.5 inches on his first attempt for the third-best mark in the field, cementing himself as the first Cowboy to become an All-American in the triple jump since his event coach, Quincy Howe, earned the honor in 2002. 

"He's just been so dedicated over the past five years," head coach Bryan Berryhill said of Carter's career at Wyoming. "He's extremely passionate about the sport. He's put everything together this last month. It's hard to make it here for the first time and get third. For him to come here in the electric environment and huge crowd and to go out there with the best jumpers in the world and get third is pretty impressive."

Berryhill was quick to credit Howe with Carter's development and success. "Scott and Quincy have a very special relationship. They really understand each other and have a ton of respect for each other. Quincy's done a great job being a wonderful mentor to Scott."

Howe acknowledged Carter's effort, as well as his close relationship with the fifth-year senior, as big components in Carter's successful ride as a Poke. "It's been a long process," Howe said. "He trusted in me and worked for the last three years, and it culminated in a good finish here. We rarely even have to speak to each other during competition because he knows what I'm thinking before he even looks over, and vice versa. It's really easy at this point to coach – the coach/athlete relationship is definitely symbiotic and that has helped so much."

Carter, who has been a model of consistency all season, came within three quarters of an inch of his personal record on Friday. Florida's KeAndre Bates (55-0) and Arkansas' Clive Pullen (54-5.5) were the only athletes to finish ahead of the Elizabeth, Colo., native, who became the Cowboys' highest finisher at the outdoor national meet since Jason Gervais took second in the hammer throw in 2000.

Carter became the 60th All-American in Cowboy history with Friday's performance and will leave Wyoming as a three-time conference champion in the triple jump alongside his First Team All-American honor. With Carter and teammate Audra DeStefano each earning All-American honors, this marks the first season since 2004 that both a Cowboy and Cowgirl have reached outdoor All-American status. Stay tuned to @wyo_track on Twitter for more coverage about Wyoming's two All-Americans.