Charles Adds Track Star To His Resume

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Senior football star Hugh Charles excels not only on the gridiron, but also on the track. Charles is sixth on the all-time rushing list at the University of Colorado with 2,659 yards in his career. He is also tied for fifth in the school annals with 11 games of 100 or more yards rushing.

Many fans don't know that he also holds many spots in the track record book. Charles has been participating in indoor track since his freshman year, but with spring football season conflicting, he never gets the chance to compete during the outdoor season - until this year.

Charles currently holds five of the top-ten longest jumps for CU without training year round for his events. He is also tied for the 10^th fastest time in the 60-meter dash with (6.77).

This two-sport athlete says the most challenging part is managing his time.

"I have school and practice to juggle," Charles explained. "With track, different days I am late to practice because I have class. Once I'm here (on campus) and I have practice, I'm here the whole day because I don't get out of practice until 4:00 p.m. which is time consuming."

Despite having to juggle his senior year along with two sports, Charles is also training for the NFL combine. He says being a two-sport athlete helps him to succeed in reaching the next level.

"I believe that track compliments football in many ways," Charles said. "One way, especially for my position, is speed and being a running back, especially playing in the Big 12 and going onto the next level, speed plays a big factor. I have to be able to run fast. A lot of running goes back to knowing how to run with the right form. Just like anything you learn like lifting there are different techniques you can do to get better. With track I am definitely getting the best of both worlds while getting my speed and my endurance up in order to go onto the next level."

Despite his long days and time-consuming schedule, Charles sees the perks of being a two-sport athlete for CU. He jokes that some of the benefits he gets to enjoy are all the clothes and shoes he receives, but the benefits he likes the most are the relationships he makes with his teammates.

"I come back and forth to the fieldhouse not really knowing anybody," Charles said. "I know everybody on the football team because we all have team bonding together, and I like to get to know as many people I can. Coming on the track team, you really get to know people who watch you on the field, and they really get to know your personality and who you really are. I think many of them respect me because I am a friendly guy, and a lot of them get to know me as not just a football guy but also a track guy and just as me."

This year at the Air Force Invite the Colorado men finished in third place, helped by Charles' 18 points with his first place finish in the long jump and second place finish in the 60-meter dash.

Charles succeeds in both sprint events and the long jump. His first two jumps this year marked the fourth and fifth spot in the record book. His personal best is now a jump of 25 feet and 03.25 inches.

Known for his speed on the football field, he has always been a "jumper" in track.

"I'm a fast guy, but I'm not like an elite sprinter," Charles said. "My event growing up has always been the long jump, and that's a thing that's going to stick with me through the rest of my life. I have a great opportunity in front of me to excel in the long jump. I'm getting better each week sprinting-wise but long jump has always been my sport and the event I excel in."

This privileged jumper keeps surprising himself along with everyone around him, especially when he obtained an NCAA provisional mark with just his first jump of the season. The mark of 25-03.25 is also a provisional mark for the Olympic Trials this summer.

"It was just a dream come true," Charles said. "I've been working so hard in each sport I've done. Once I'm in something, such as football and track which are my main sports, I put my mind to it and I plan to excel because I've put in a lot of hard work to get to where I'm at. It's just a great honor to be there since I've worked so hard.

Charles admits that it's tough trying to do two sports when they overlap.

"Every year I've been trying to do outdoor (track), but football conflicted," Charles said. "Doing track year round only helps you get better at running and conditioning. I would love to do both of them if I could at the same time, but being in spring ball wouldn't allow me to do it."

Although, Charles is a senior which means he has exhausted his football eligibility at CU, he hopes to be able to participate in a few outdoor meets.

"Pro (Timing) Day and other football commitments conflict with track, but I may be able to do one or two meets," Charles said.

"A lot of running and also the jumping ability comes with strength which is what football provides me. I believe football has provided me the strength to be fast, to get my muscles right, and try to avoid injuries."

Charles has led a very successful four years at Colorado, and he has the ability to flourish this indoor season. Even though Charles has only a few months left at CU, he has set high goals for himself which he hopes to accomplish very soon.

"My biggest goal right now is to get the qualifying mark for the Olympic trials and to go to nationals in indoor and perform well," Charles said. "I know I can be an elite jumper as long as I keep listening to coach (Lindsey) Malone who is a great coach and just work hard at what I do best."

Players Mentioned

Hugh Charles

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