Benichoux, Graham Wins Individual Events in Track & Field's Season Opener
CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, January 28, 2023
The Hudson Valley Community College men's and women's track and field programs had some success in their first meet of the 2023 season and were led by defending NJCAA 100m champion, Charles Benichoux and newcomer Jalen Graham, who both won individual events at the Wesleyan Invitational at Middletown, Conn. on Saturday afternoon.
Charles Benichoux continued his meet dominance from his national championship season a year ago. Benichoux won the event's 60m dash with a time of 7.09 seconds and the 200m dash with a time of 23.64. Jalen Graham, the 2022 New York State Champion in the Boys Weight Throw from Liverpool, NY, won his first collegiate weight throwing event with a distance of 15.73m (51' 7.25").
Graham also placed fifth in the Men's Shot Put event with a distance of 11.90m. Graham placed two spots behind teammate, Guerin Dupris, who placed third overall with a shot put distance of 12.12m. Guerin placed eighth in the weight throw, tossing a final distance of 10.33m.
Brooks Robson had a great meet in his first collegiate event as he earned top-5 finishes in the Men's Triple Jump and the Men's Long Jump events. Robson took fourth place in the Long Jump after connecting on a jump distance of 6.12m. He also placed fifth place in the Triple Jump with a distance of 12.88m.
Xavier Hughes earned a top-10 finish in the Men's 60m Hurdles event, posting an official time of 9.95 seconds.
The Vikings distance runners had a good run as Wesleyan as they all placed inside the top-20 in the Men's Mile and the Men's 800m events. Jake Kinnicutt placed 15th to lead the Vikings in the Men's Mile and finished with a time of 5:32.19. Ian Shaw took the team's top spot in the Men's 800m event as he placed 14th overall and had a time of 2.29.85.
The track and field program will get back to work as they prepare to participate in the West Point Tune-Up on Saturday, February 18 in West Point, NY.