LEXINGTON — From Lexington, Ohio to Tracktown, USA.
Latrell Hughes will be a well-traveled man after signing his Nation Letter of Intent in front of friends, family, coaches and teammates to run track at the University of Oregon on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 29.
“They really liked my range,” Hughes said. “They said they haven’t really seen anyone with range like that. I went out there and it was so cool there. It was an experience I won’t soon forget, and I cannot wait to get there.
“It is crazy,” Hughes added. “I put a lot of hard work in and my coaches and my parents put me spots to be successful. It means a lot and I am so excited. That is where the best competition is and I want to get there and compete.”
Hughes will take his running talent to the most prestigious running university in the country and those who know that talent expect he will flourish there just as he did at Lexington High School.
“It has been an experience coaching Latrell,” Lexington track coach Mike Moore said. “The first year I met him, I knew he was special. He told me his goal was to run at Oregon; that’s a big goal and here he is making his dream come true. It’s amazing.”
Hughes owns five school records in track with numerous Top 3 times in several events. He has 19 class records over his career with his senior year still ahead. An Ohio Cardinal Conference Runner of the Year in 2025, Hughes is a six-time All-Ohio track athlete and has four races where he owns Top 10 times in Ohio track and field history and two races with Top 3 times and is No. 2 in the 800 all time.
In the spring of 2025, Hughes clinched the second New Balance All-American honor of his career and is an eight-time National High School Coaches Association All-American. He goes down as one of the most accomplished athletes in Lexington High School history.
“He makes it look so easy,” Moore said. “Being an All-American is very hard to earn, but Latrell makes it look so easy. I am very proud of his leadership and how he makes something very hard, look so easy.”
He is also an accomplished cross country runner who owns the school record for time in a 5K and led the Minutemen to the 2025 Division II state championship.
“His maturity over the last four years has grown so much as a student and an athlete,” Lexington cross country coach Denise Benson said. “I have coached a lot of incredible athletes, not only does he have the biggest range of any athlete I have ever coaches, but he also has the most talent, biggest work ethic and I know he is going to go compete on the national stage at Oregon at a high level.”
Benson and Hughes share a love for their faith and particularly a scripture from Jeremiah 29:11 which states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Benson was proud of the way Hughes set a goal at an early age, worked hard to achieve it all while leaning on his faith to guide him.
“We wondered what he was,” Benson said. “Was he a sprinter, mid-distance, distance? What I will say, for Latrell, it isn’t what event, it’s whatever sets his mind to do. He has show that over the course of his career. He can do anything.”
And he did it while setting a prime example for his teammates.
“I love his selflessness,” Moore said. “When you look at his character, how he was brought up, how his parents raised him, how he acts in school, how he acts on the track, I know he is going to be successful at the next level. I am so excited to see him take a huge step.”
Hughes still has his senior track season to go where he hopes to defend his Division I state championship in the 800 while also helping the 4×800 team attempt a repeat. Then, he will head to Oregon where he will begin his next athletic adventure with the same attitude he carried during his high school career.
“Right now, it is just track, but I will be on the cross country roster so, I can run a meet if I want to,” Hughes said. “I’ll be training with them anyway. For track, I am not sure yet. They have several ideas of how to use me on the 4×400 and 4×800 and maybe the 1,500. So, I’ll get there and do whatever they ask of me, compete and run my hardest.”
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington’s Latrell Hughes signs with Oregon Track and Field
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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