Aug. 4, 2008

The USC track and field program has received a signed National Letter of Intent from Joey Hughes of Long Beach Poly HS in Long Beach, Calif., it was announced today (Aug. 4) by Director of Track and Field Ron Allice.

Hughes was the 2008 national high school leader in the 400m with a time of 46.28 which he ran in winning the California state championship in the event. He also placed fourth in the CIF state meet in the 200m with a time of 21.53. In addition, Hughes ran the second leg for Long Beach Poly's winning 4x100m relay team (41.26) and the anchor leg for its second-place 4x400m relay team (3:12.58).

Hughes' top prep 400m time of 46.28 in 2008 gives the Trojans the last two national leaders, as Bryshon Nellum (who redshirted for USC in 2008 with a hamstring injury) led all high school runners in 2007 with a time of 45.38. USC's 2009 team will feature a runner which has posted a high school top five mark in every season since 2005: Hughes, 1st - 2008, Nellum, 1st - 2007, Nellum, 2nd - 2006 and Nate Anderson, 5th - 2005.

Hughes was named the 2008 Press-Telegram Dream Team Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year and was named by USA Today to the 2008 All-USA high school track and field team in the 400m . Hughes had a hand in all 32 points that Long Beach Poly scored at the CIF State Championships to finish tied for second. Hughes also had the second-fastest 200m time of 21.10 among 2008 California high school boys.

Hughes joins the previously announced strong recruiting class which includes Erica Alexander, Frida Flodstrom, Elan Hilaire, Dalilah Muhammad, Anniya Louis, Aareon Payne and Blake Shaw.