By Jack Voight, Staff Writer
The blank shot is fired. The runners take off, the rubber of the artificial track being torn into by the spikes of their shoes. After the initial takeoff, there is a period of time when the runners jockey for position, but one begins to pull ahead of the pack.
It is junior Zach Hughes, who is coming off a state championship in cross country as well as in the 4х800 relay for the indoor track season, which he won alongside junior Aidan May, freshman Warner Campbell and sophomore Tyler Sylvia.
Hughes is not only known for his prowess on the track, but for being there to support his teammates as well.
“(Zach) tells me that even if I’m not feeling my greatest, I can still push myself,” Sylvia said. “He’s very humble.”
As well as being a team leader in relay races with some of his friends, Hughes is known for his outstanding individual track (no pun intended) record.
Along with this recent title, Hughes placed first in the NCHSAA 2A Cross Country State Championship meet in November, completing the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 0.79 seconds, giving First Flight its first individual cross country title in school history.
“A state championship, especially in cross country since that is such a big race, everybody sees that. It really helps get your name out there, so that’s a big step towards my goal,” Hughes said.
With a successful resume, Hughes now can turn some of his focus to the next level, where he has already gotten several large universities to give him offers to come run for them. From schools as close as North Carolina State University to as far as the University of Alabama, Hughes already has a number of options to choose from.
One may think that Hughes has had running in mind from an early age, but the sport hasn’t always been his No. 1 focus when it comes to athletics. In fact, Hughes didn’t even begin running competitively until his freshman year.
“I didn’t start thinking about track seriously until after freshman year, because I was all about baseball until that point,” Hughes said. “End of sophomore year, I had a good season and my times were good for the state, so that’s when I thought I could go somewhere (with track).”
Hughes’ track and cross country coach, Chris Layton, has worked with Hughes for the past three years and believes there are several reasons Hughes has been such a standout.
“He’s improved exponentially,” Layton said. “He didn’t have a track background but he was a natural athlete and had the desire to put in the work.”
There is one point of Hughes’ career that Layton vividly remembers: the state cross country meet Hughes’ freshman year.
“As a freshman who wasn’t quite ready to be a leader yet, he was the leader of the first mile at the cross country state meet,” Layton said, “I find it wonderfully ironic that he goes on to lead and win the state meet.”
Layton believes that Hughes’ mindset and rigorous work ethic have helped him get to this point in his running career and will help carry him to the collegiate level.
“In distance running, you’re trying to teach yourself to deal with pain,” Layton said. “It’s not natural to go out there and run a 4:19 mile.”
With several accomplishments already in his pocket and a collegiate career likely ahead of him, Hughes has a strong future to look forward to, but is still very much focused on breaking records and winning titles in his remaining time as a Nighthawk.
“This coming spring season I want to break 4:15 in the mile, and I really want a state title in the mile, and the 800 meter,” Hughes said. “I’m excited about the next level, but I definitely will miss high school.”
Sophomore Jack Voight can be reached at 21voightja99@daretolearn.org.
