University of Northern Iowa sophomore Carter Morton from Jefferson finished in second place in the men’s decathlon over the weekend at the Missouri Valley Conference Track & Field Championship. The decathlon was Friday and Saturday with Morton leading after day one by a slim margin over two other decathletes. On Saturday, Ariel Arias, a native of Israel, competing for Illinois State, took the lead and never looked back, but Morton was second with a career best 6,972 points. The runner-up finish also means all-conference honors for the 2020 Greene County High School Male Ram of the Year.

Morton’s meet wasn’t done after five events on Friday, then five more in the decathlon on Saturday. Just 25 minutes after he crossed the finish line in the 1,500 meter run to finish the decathlon, he was up in the men’s long jump, where he finished in eleventh place at 22′ 9-23/4″. In between, he was on the podium for the decathlon awards ceremony, so he had little time in between events, and he was first in the long jump order. His day still wasn’t done because he competed in the men’s high jump with a best clearance of 6′ 4-3/4″, good for twelfth place. Two days- 12 events. The meet continues today at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, although Morton will be a spectator and not a competitor.

Morton is the son of Chad and Deb Morton of Jefferson. Chad is Greene County’s boys’ head track & field coach, and Carter’s brother, Jackson, is a senior for the Rams who will be in the three hurdles events this week at Drake Stadium during the Coed State Meet.