LEXINGTON — After breaking the school record in his final race as a junior, what will Latrell Hughes do for an encore?
It should be fun to watch.
The newly-crowned North Central Ohio Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Hughes broke the program record en route to a second-place finish at the Division II state meet at Fortress Obetz.
He finished in 15 minutes, 13.46 seconds, less than four seconds behind state champ Andrew Walton of Fairfield Union, leading the Minutemen to a runner-up finish in the team standings.
“It was a really good race,” Hughes said. “Our team had high expectations for this meet and I think we showed out.”
The Ohio Cardinal Conference Runner of the Year, Hughes won a district championship at Galion in 15:33.96 and finished fourth at the Tiffin regional (15:29.60). He is the crown jewel of an All-North Central Ohio team that includes four of his Lexington teammates.
Here’s a look at the area’s best:
Chance Basilone, Lexington
The Ohio State-bound Basilone placed 10th at the state meet in 15:40.64. Basilone was runner-up to Hughes at the Galion district, finishing in 16:10.98. He then won the Tiffin regional title in what was then a school record 15:14.28.
Xavier Trent, Ontario
A junior and the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Runner of the Year, Trent finished 33rd at the Division II state meet in 15:51.63. He was fifth at the Galion district in 16:28.02 and eighth at the Tiffin regional in 16:10.83.
Lincoln Rice, Lexington
Another of Lex’s talented underclassmen, Rice finished 38th at the Division II state meet in 15:58.56. The junior was third at the Galion district (16:18.09) and seventh at the Tiffin regional in 16:09.26.
Gage Devaney, Lexington
A junior, Devaney placed 45th at state in 16:03.61. Devaney was sixth at the Galion district (16:30.57) and 12th at the Tiffin regional (16:20.85).
Cooper Brockway, Crestview
The Firelands Conference champion, Brockway finished 49th in the Division III state meet in 16:25.78. The senior was third at the Galion district in 16:30.59 and 20th at the Tiffin regional in 16:24.85.
John Bartone, Lexington
A sophomore, Bartone finished 83rd at the Division II state meet in 16:29.35. Bartone was seventh at the Galion district in 16:47.79 and 25th at the Tiffin regional in 16:56.91.
Brandon Hogg, Fredericktown
A Knox Morrow Athletic Conference first-teamer, Hogg paced the Fredericktown boys at the Division III state meet. The senior finished 16:46.17. Hogg was ninth at the Hilliard Darby district (17:08.91) and 26th at the Pickerington regional (17:03.85).