Photo by Max Gallagher

By Ryan Moxon – Nearing the end of the regular season, the Hough Huskies outdoor track team is trending upward, with gains across sprint events and field disciplines complementing its traditionally strong distance group.

“We’ve improved a lot in the sprints and field events on both boys and girls sides,” said coach Andrew Carrington. “Mid-distance and distance has always been a strength of the program, and we’ve shown that again this year with our depth.”

That balance has positioned Hough as a contender heading into the final stretch of the regular season, particularly on the boys side, where the team is eyeing a conference title and a strong showing at the state meet.

Among the most notable areas of growth has been in the throwing events. Shawn Kennedy has set the school record in discus, while Trace Oakley has done the same in shot put, giving Hough two of the top marks in the state’s 4A classification.

Distance runners have continued to anchor the program. At the Carolina Distance Carnival, Drew Johnson posted a personal record in a fast 800-meter heat, while Aidan Malloy set a school record in the 3,200 meters.

Johnson, a Howard University commit, is one of several standout performers on the boys team, alongside Malloy, who is committed to Catholic University, as well as Grant Collum and Quinn Notte in the middle-distance events.

On the girls side, Aleksa Camodeca, Jenna Beyerle and Addy Bamford have contributed across the 400- and 800-meter races, while Juliana Mills Zacapa has added depth in the 800 and 1,600. McKenzie Kamara has provided versatility, competing in sprints and the long jump.

Several athletes have also emerged as unexpected contributors. Oakley’s rise in the shot put has been a highlight for the boys, along with improvements from Kylan Bright in the 200 and 400. For the girls, Luciana Zamudio has progressed in discus, while Maddie Epperson has strengthened the distance group. As the postseason approaches, Hough’s relay teams could prove to be a difference-maker.

“We see our relays being very good heading into the postseason,” Carrington said.