OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Darrell Hughes

Darrell Hughes began his high school running career wearing the green and white of the Galloway Westland High School Cougars. Under the guidance of coaches Leslie & Richie Cohen-Smith and Robb Hammond, during his junior year, Darrell impressively burst onto the state and national running scene in both Cross Country and Track & Field. Darrell captured 5 individual Division I State Championships (800 Meter Run – 1990 (1:52.12) & 1991 (1:52.93), 1600 Meter Run – 1990 (4:12.38) & 1991 (4:11.58) and Cross Country – 1990 (15:27.4). He also placed 7th in OHSAA Division I Cross Country State Championship in 1989. In the history of the OHSAA State Track & Field Championships Darrell is one of few individuals to ever win the 1600/800 meter double, not once but twice in impressive fashion during the 1990 & 1991 seasons. With only a 40 minute gap between the two races it is rare to accomplish this 1600/800 double once much less twice in a career by a high school runner. He also earned 6 All Ohio honors (2 Cross Country & 4 in Track & Field) during his four year high school career. In 1990 he was the Kinney (Footlocker) Mid-West Region Cross Country Champion in 15:25.9 & a Footlocker National Finalist. In 1991 he became the National High School 1 Mile Champion by winning the Keebler Invitational in a time of 4:08.52 (4:06.8 – 1600 M). In 1991 he was the USATF Junior National 1500 Champion, Individual 800 Meter Champion at the Tallahassee Florida Invitational in 1:50.27 (which was the fastest High School 800 meter that year), he also captured the 1500 M Championship at the TAC Championships in a time of 3:48.38 and he placed 3rd in the 1500 M Run in 3:51.81 at the Pan American Junior Championships (Jamaica). In 1991 Darrell had the fastest 800 M (1:50.27), 1600 M (4:11.58) and Mile (4:08.52) prep times in the nation. As a result of his individual accomplishments in Track & Field during the 1991 season Track & Field News ranked him as the #1 Male High School Track & Field athlete in the nation. After completing his high school career Darrell moved onto to Indiana University to continue his impressive running career. Wearing the cream and crimson at Indiana University he was a four time qualifier to the NCAA National Championships – 1x in Cross Country, 1x to the Indoor Track & Field Championships and 2x qualifier to the Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In 1995 he placed 90th in the National Cross Country Championships. His personal best times as a collegiate athlete were 800 M (1:49.9), 1500 M (3:34.00), Mile (4:04+) and in the 5000 M (14:03.72). Darrell was a Four Year Letter Winner in Cross Country as well as Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field while at Indiana. He earned All-Big Ten Academic honors in Cross Country 92-95 and in Track & Field 92-96. He also earned All-American honors in Track & Field to finish up an outstanding collegiate career. Darrell Hughes has definitely left his mark as one of Ohio’s all-time top ranking 800/1600 Meter men’s high school runners. The Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches is proud to recognize your outstanding personal career accomplishments by inducting you into the OATCCC Hall of Fame. Congratulations Darrell!