Hughes represents HHS at state meet

By Travis Dockery

Digital Media Director 

  • Landon Hughes will be a center point for the HHS cross country teams for years to come.
    Landon Hughes will be a center point for the HHS cross country teams for years to come.

    Sophomore Landon Hughes carried the torch for Hayesville’s mens cross country team this season. Hughes was regularly the highest finishing Yellow Jacket at Smoky Mountain Conference meets. 

    Hughes’ leadership continued in the post-season thanks to his finish at the Western Regional Finals on Saturday October 30 in Bryson city. A time of 18:09.17 earned Hughes a team-high 17th place finish and a spot in the state finals.

    On Saturday, Nov. 6, Hughes headed to Kernersville as Hayesville’s lone athlete to compete for a state championship. While Hughes wasn’t able to secure a podium finish, his time of 18:54.41 was good enough to place him 54th out of 139 runners.

    While this season didn’t end with a trophy, the fact that Hughes was able to make this impressive run as a sophomore is encouraging for him and the entire Hayesville cross country program.