COLUMBUS — One of the most historic high school track and field careers in Richland County history has come to an end.
But it was all smile for Lexington senior Latrell Hughes. On Sunday, June 5, Hughes repeated as state champion in the 800-meter dash, this time winning the Division II Jesse Owens Ohio High School Athletic Association State Track and Field Championships title with a blistering time of 1:49.46.
Last season, Hughes won the Division I state championship with a 1:51.00 before going to the New Balance Nationals Outdoor event and posting a personal best 1:48.46 to take fifth and earn himself All-American honors in the process.
Hughes has been battling a hamstring injury all season and has only run the 800-meter run six times this season. He won the event at the 94th Mehock Relays with a 1:53.24 before posting a 1:55.89 in a dual meet with Ashland on April 21.
When he reached the postseason, he did what he needed to do to qualify for the district finals running a 2:09.16 in the preliminary round before smoking the field with a season-best 1:51.88 to win the district title. He followed that up with a 1:52.99 to win the regional championship in the final race at Lexington High School of his career.
Hughes, who was named the No. 1 returning Richland County male track and field athlete coming into the season and the No. 3 athlete in the Richland 200, ends his career with two 800-meter run state championships and a state title in the 4×800-meter relay in 2025 when his team posted a 7:37.65. He also led the Minutemen to the 2025 Division II state cross country championship.
He has lived up to all of the hype and then some.
He will take his medals and his talent to the University of Oregon in the Fall to continue his running and academic career.
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Lexington boys OHSAA state track champions
1983: Terry Smith – High Jump
1997: Mark Simmons – Discus
1997: Mark Simmons – Shot Put
2016: Nick Stricklen – 3,200-meter run
2016: Ryan Johnston, Bailey Stach, Forest Volz, Nick Stricklen – 4×800-meter relay
2017: Mason Kearns, Tony Gerrell, Forest Volz, Hunter Biddle – 4×400-meter relay
2025: Latrell Hughes – 800-meter run
2025: Latrell Hughes, Chance Basilone, Nathan Reed, Will Perkins – 4×800-meter relay
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington’s Latrell Hughes repeats as 800-meter OHSAA state champion
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
