By Derrick Smith

While work is a key part of being successful, keeping yourself motivated can be just as important. If you are not motivated, it will be tough for you to continue to get better and improve. Carter Free is a dual sport athlete and he knows exactly what to do to keep himself motivated. 

“What motivates me the most is meeting my own personal goals,” she said. “Each year, I set goals that I want to achieve to help motivate me to be the best I can be. This past season in track one of my main goals was to qualify for state, but I was able to actually get state champ in the 4x200m relays, state runner-up in the 4x100m relay, and I qualified for state in the 100m dash.”

Carter, a senior, plays football and runs track for the Vinita Hornets. Outside of sports, he is a member of the National Honor Society and he is also a Junior Lion. Throughout his life, he has had those that have influenced his life, but he says that there is one person that has been a role model for him to look up to. 

“My dad is one of the biggest influences on my life,” he said. “He does not let being blind hold him back from doing things.”

Over his career, Carter has put done what it takes to be his best. In turn, that has allowed him to experience some memorable moments while competing. 

“It has taken a lot of time, hard work, and even extra work to be successful in my sports,” he said. “I would have to say that the highlight of my career was when my relay team won state in the 4x200m relay and set a Class 3A state record.”

His teammates have been an important part of Free’s success and he says that they help him to be better.

“Tucker Winfrey is probably the teammate that I battle with the most in practice,” he said. “We don’t battle in a bad way, instead we always try to push each other to be the best that we can. Another teammate, Brett Goins, is someone underappreciated. He is a hard worker but does not get the credit he deserves.”