Thirty-two-year-old Melique Garcia competed Saturday for Honduras in the 100 meter prelims, finishing fifth in his heat.

He had a lot of support from Watervliet.

“I texted him right afterwards,” said student-athlete Anthony Morelli. “I was like, that was an amazing race and I wish I could have been there to actually see it, but Paris obviously is quite a bit far from here. It was fun watching him on the live stage. I’m kind of sad that he didn’t get to move on, but he’ll get there eventually.”

Garcia has been the Watervliet High School track and field coach for several years.

“Who doesn’t want to root for their home team? How many of us know an Olympian? And now so many of the students get to say that they do,” said Dr. Donald Stevens, Watervliet school superintendent.

The Watervliet athletes have been coached by an Olympian, which not many people can say.

They saw him training after practice.

“I’ve run with him, I’ve run against him. It’s really fun doing it. He’s fast, and it’s mind-blowing how fast he is,” said student-athlete Zayden Crouse.

He graduated from Watervliet High in 2010.

As a student, he designed the gymnasium. His name is permanently featured on the floor.

It’s fitting his picture is on the record boards because he’s set plenty of school track and field records.

He’s in the school’s Hall of Fame.

“It makes it seem possible for people in a small school like us to — it shows us that we can do anything, basically,” said student-athlete Brody Wallas.

There’s a lot of Watervliet pride.

“The fact that he’s even in the Olympics is amazing,” said student-athlete Talisia Johnson-Taylor. “I appreciate that. I appreciate watching him because it’s like, my coach is an Olympian? That’s amazing.”