TROY — Hudson Valley Community College freshman Charles Benichoux, who started running track three years ago, showed no emotion on Saturday after he crossed the finish line as a national champion.
If anything, he was a little disappointed in his time of 10.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III outdoor track and field championships, held for the first time on the HVCC campus with 300 athletes from 27 schools.
“Obviously, I’m happy, but I wasn’t expecting this time,” said Benichoux, the first HVCC sprinter to win a national title. “I was thinking about maybe running faster, but life is like this, so I’m going to work harder and we’ll see how it goes.”
The time didn’t matter to his adoptive parents, Florence and Nicole, who traveled from their home in Marseilles, France, to watch Benichoux.
“We are very proud,” Florence said.
Benichoux, born in Haiti, was adopted at 2 years old and moved to France. Three years ago, Benichoux went to live with his aunt and uncle for one semester in Cold Spring, Putnam County. It was there Benichoux, who previously played rugby, took up football and track at Haldane High School.
“His dream is to be an American,” Florence said.
He found HVCC at the suggestion of his cousin Marianne Sutton, who was also at Saturday’s meet.
“I looked online,” Sutton said. “It’s a SUNY school, it’s a great sports department, it’s not far from home, it’s got an amazing reputation for sports, so it was kind of a win-win. And then when we met Jeoffrey York, he was so nice and supportive.”
York, HVCC’s head track and field coach, is a Troy High graduate who became a five-time NCAA champion at UAlbany. He raved about Benichoux’ athleticism — he can do a standing backflip on command — and his willingness to be coached.
“He’s hard-working,” York said. “I’ve never met a sprinter that does everything you tell him to do. No complaints. He loves running. He’s a great athlete, great kid, very humble.”
York suspected Benichoux might have been nervous running in front of his family on Saturday.
York said Benichoux is capable of reaching his ultimate goal, which is running for his native France in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Benichoux said. “I’m really motivated.”
He had a setback later on Saturday, finishing second to Mohawk Valley’s Andy Hadasz in the 200-meter final. But he said he came overseas to be challenged.
“My dream was to come to America and be a student-athlete to run track because America has the best track and field,” Benichoux said. “I wanted to come here to compete against the best.”
Benichoux, who isn’t on an athletic scholarship, plans to return to HVCC for his sophomore year. He is getting interest from Division I programs, including the University at Albany, according to York. Benichoux won the 100 meters at UAlbany’s Spring Classic meet on April 23 in a time of 10.67.
HVCC assistant David Byrd, a football and track star at CBA and Syracuse, said Benichoux’s 100-meter title on Saturday didn’t reflect his potential.
“It’s bittersweet, honestly, because I know he can go so much faster,” Byrd said. “The good thing is, he got away with it and he works his (butt) off. He earned that title.”
