FORT DODGE - With the departure of Nigel Bigbee and promotion of Jordan Burkholder to Head Track and Field Coach, the Tritons filled out their staff with two additional hires this summer. Joining Burkholder's staff are John Horton who will coach the jumps and former Triton National Champion, Destiny Carter who will work with sprinters and jumpers. Burkholder will continue to lead the throwers, Justin Anderson will coach the sprints and hurdles, Head Cross Country Coach, Nick Ekel will continue to coach the mid-distance squad while Director of Track and Field & Cross Country, Dee Brown will continue to coach the distance group.
JOHN HORTON
Horton comes to the Tritons from Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, KS. Last season the Red Ravens finished fifth at the outdoor national meet behind some great performances in the jumping events. Horton coached Dodley Thermitus to a national title and new national and meet record in the long jump with a mark of 8.24 meters (27-0.5"). Thermitus was the Indoor and Outdoor National Champion. His jumpers finished first, fourth and sixth in the long jump, and third, seventh and thirteenth in the triple jump. He also had two men score in the high jump at sixth and seventh places. While at Coffeyville, Horton coached athletes to five new school records.
Horton received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston where he was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American. In 2013 he finished 15th in the Triple Jump at the Outdoor National Championships and then improved to 8th at the 2014 National Championships. While at Houston he was coached by Olympians Leroy Burrell and Carl Lewis. Horton holds personal records of 7.51 meters (24-7.75") in the long jump and 15.97 meters (52-4.75") in the triple jump.
Head Coach Jordan Burkholder says, "John comes to us from Coffeyville CC, where he led his jumps group to the top of the NJCAA. He does a great job teaching his students the events and we are very excited to have him joining our staff."
Horton is most excited for "the opportunity to progress my coaching career at a program known for excelling at the highest level."
Horton most recently attended the 2019 USATF Emerging Elite Coaches Camp at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (CVEATC) in Chula Vista, CA and earned his certificate of completion in Jumps.
DESTINY CARTER
While a member of the Iowa Central Tritons, Carter was crowned a National Champion a total of five times; in long jump three times, and as a member of the 4x400 relay and the 4x100 relay. She was a key component in the Triton's Indoor National title in 2014 at the Armory in New York City. Carter is still a part of two indoor school records (200m and 4x400 relay) and three outdoor school records (200m, 4x100 relay and sprint medley relay).
After graduating from Iowa Central, Carter finished her career at the University of Kentucky where she majored in Community and Leadership Development. Carter was a two-time NCAA Indoor All-American in the long jump and 4x400 meter relay. She was an eight-time NCAA Outdoor All-American, twice in the 100 meters, twice in the 200 meters and twice in the 4x100 meter relay. In 2017, her 4x100 meter relay team were crowned National Champions. She also earned All-America status in the 4x400 meter relay and long jump events. Carter holds personal bests of 11.05 at 100 meters, 22.61 at 200 meters and 6.55 meters (21-6") in the long jump.
Since graduation she served as a volunteer assistant coach at North Carolina State and has been training as a professional athlete. Carter made the 2018 World Team for the United States in the 60-meter dash and was the runner-up at the USATF National Championships at 60 meters.
She will work with short sprinters as well as the long and triple jumpers.
When asked what she was looking most forward to, Carter replied, "being able to kick off my coaching career where it all began."
"We are very excited to have Destiny back with the Tritons. She was a quality person, a hard worker and talented athlete who gave a lot to our program. We are excited for what she can bring to our team with her strong female influence and help continue the tradition and culture the Tritons are known for," stated Coach Brown.