Fort Worth Christian senior Carter Cheeseman had himself quite a 2017 - 2018 season, both on the courses and on the track. He won a TAPPS 5A state cross title, a NXR South title, and qualified for both NXN and Foot Locker Nationals. On the track, he went on to win the Texas Distance Festival and then the TAPPS 5A 1600m and 3200m state championships.
Cheeseman also traveled around the country getting in some running action at some of the biggest and most competitive high school meets in the country.
So, where has he been this season?
There have been very few sightings of Cheeseman this season.
Several weeks of the season went by as he wasn't scheduled to open up until September 8th at the Southlake Carroll Invitational. Like the rest of the field, Cheeseman battled the rain, the floods, and the soggy and muddy terrain. But, where has he been since then?
On September 22nd, he was slated to run Chile Pepper Festival, but he didn't. Then, come last week, he was supposed to run at the McNeil Invitational, but that didn't happen either.
So, what is the deal?
Well, at the Southlake Inv, Cheeseman felt a slight discomfort in his leg. However, the answer to Cheeseman's whereabouts aren't that simple. He has exercised caution with rehabbing and resting, but Cheeseman has been MIA for another reason. He has been traveling a lot over the last month taking recruiting trips.
Colleges from coast to coast have shown interest in Cheeseman. Between training, rehabbing, and going to school, he has been taking his visits and gathering information to make the best decision on what is the best place for him to compete in college and get an education.
Although he did elect not to run at McNeil last weekend, he did get in his second race of the season. Cheeseman ran at the Paschal Invitational where he tested his leg and his fitness. He won the meet with a 15:20.80.
This weekend, he will travel once again. This time, it won't be for recruiting, it'll be for his next race as he is scheduled to run at the Great American Festival in Cary, NC. The Great American Festival will be one of the best meets of the weekend with some of the best competition nation wide. Last year, he competed at the meet and ended with 15:12.90 for a 7th place finish.
Although the important part of the season is approaching soon, this week means very little when considering all that Cheeseman has riding on his senior season. However, if he is healthy, this week could be the race that finally gets his season on track. Oh and yeah, it'll be our chance to finally get a good look at one of the best runners in Texas.
