Zach Hughes (First Flight)
2019 Outdoor Rankings
| NC | National | ||
| 1600m | 4:19.75 | 14th | 525th |
| 400m | 52.82 | 288th | 10,567th |
| 800m | 1:53.25 | 6th | 104th |
| 3200m | 10:30.00 | 229th | 10,944th |
| Mile | 4:21.16 | 10th | 229th |
2019 Indoor Rankings
| NC | National | ||
| 1000m | 2:36.52 | 17th | 179th |
| 1600m | 4:19.70 | 4th | 65th |
| 3200m | 9:58.99 | 50th | 914th |
| 500m | 1:12.06 | 124th | 613th |
| Mile | 4:21.21 | 5th | 88th |
The First Flight rising senior is coming off of a standout junior season where he set personal bests in the 800m, 1600m/1 mile, 3200m, and cross country 5000m! His dominant run started at the 2018 Cross Country 2A East Regional where Hughes dipped under the 16 minutes mark for the second time of his career taking the individual regional title and leading his Nighthawks to a team title as well! He continued that hot streak at the 2A State Championship where he battled North Lincoln's Jason Thompson (Pre-Season #7) to the line in what was a thrilling race claiming the State Title! Hughes has the 6th fastest returning time for all classifications at Ivey Redmon (the course of the State Championship.
Hughes only ran the 3200m twice during the Indoor and Outdoor seasons but he managed to snag a personal best at the Dash for Doobie 3200m clocking 9:58! Hughes hovered around the upper 4:20s - low 4:30's range for most of early indoor season before he broke out at the Mondo Elite HS Invitational where he clocked 4:21.21 for the full mile! In yet another battle with North Lincoln's Thompson Hughes finished runner up in the 1600m at the Indoor State Championship.
Hughes managed to chop some time off his 1600m personal best from the Indoor season, he clipped 4:21.16 for the full mile at the Bojangles Track & Field Classic, which converts to 4:19.75 over 1600m! He won the 2A East Regional title in the 1600m but elected not to run in that event at the State meet.
Hughes chose to focus on the 800m mainly in outdoor season and it paid off. Hughes ran a stellar 1:53.51 at the Dogwood Track Classic in Virginia which took 7th place. He doubled up at the 2A East Regional taking home the victory in the 800m along with the 1600m. In yet another matchup with Thompson at the State meet in the 800m, Hughes was victorious clocking 1:55.89 for his first Track & Field State Title! His season was not finished there, however, Hughes managed to set yet another personal best at New Balance Outdoor National where he clocked 1:53.25 which was the 6th fastest time in NC that season!
Look for Zach Hughes to open up his senior season hungry and looking to claim the 2A Cross Country State Title for the 2nd consecutive season. This season though, he will be looking to lead his First Flight squad to the top of the podium at the State Meet.