NYO athlete breaks state record

ANCHORAGE — Entering the 2014 Native Youth Olympics state competition, Joshua Hughes was motivated to do something he had never done before – place at the state meet.

But he was also determined to do something no other NYO athlete had accomplished.

Hughes met both goals in record-breaking fashion.

Hughes, a Mat-Su Career and Technical High School junior competing with the Mat-Su combined team, shattered the state record in the wrist carry event during the state meet at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.

Hughes hit 730 feet in the wrist carry, which features an athlete who hooks a wrist around the middle of a stick while gripping the forearm with the other hand, as he is being carried by two teammates around an oval course. Hughes blew by the old state record of 611 feet. He also beat his own personal best by about 31 feet. He set an unofficial state record, hitting 699 feet at the Mat-Su District Meet earlier this month.

By hitting 730 in the state meet, Hughes also placed in the state meet for the first time in his NYO career. Prior to the meet, Hughes said he felt like he was able to get the state record. But after he broke the record, Hughes admitted surprise.

“Afterward, it was like, wow, I actually did it,” Hughes said. “I was surprised I actually did it.”

Hughes said he worked hard to become mentally focused for the event.

“I was pretty nervous because I’ve never placed at state,” Hughes said.

Once it was his turn in the event, and his carriers (Houston High’s Tanner Barclay and Zachary Tucheck) began bringing Hughes around the oval, Hughes said it became easier.

“The farther and farther, I was getting more excited. It felt like I was getting really close. I had to state calm and focused,” Hughes said.

Hughes said he knew he had to make three laps of the oval to break the record. Once he reached that point, Hughes said he nearly couldn’t contain the excitement.

“When I knew I passed the record point, it was hard not to fall. My breathing almost went out of control. I almost got overwhelmed by it,” Hughes said.

Jared Barrett, the head coach of the Mat-Su combined NYO team, said he was not only proud to see Hughes break the record, but overcome his struggles to place in the state meet.

“For a lot of these kids, it’s just a bigger arena. There are five times as many athletes,” Barrett said.

Barrett said he was thrilled to see Hughes at the top of the podium during the awards ceremony.

“It was incredible. When he was announced, everybody stood up. It was awesome. I love to see these kids succeed,” Barrett said.

Hughes was one of two Mat-Su athletes to place in the boys’ wrist carry. Jacob McNaulty, a member of the Mat-Su B team, finished second in the event with a mark of 581 feet, 9 inches. Morelle Kinne, of the Mat-Su B team, finished fourth in the girls’ wrist carry.

Hughes helped lead the Mat-Su A team to a fourth-place finish in the team standings. Mat-Su finished with 28 total points, and was one of four teams separated by only four points in the team standings.

“It was the closest I have ever seen in the point standings,” Barrett said. “We were four points from first, so a couple more placing or one more first place would have put us on top.”

Barrett said his Mat-Su team suffered key injuries to athletes in the boys and girls one foot high kick, and that could have made the difference.

“I am very proud of the team. We competed very well and represented the Mat-Su with pride,” Barrett said.

Hughes was one of 16 Mat-Su athletes to place in the top 5 of their respective events. Forrest Strick finished third in the Indian stick pull, fourth in the kneel jump, and fifth in the toe kick and seal hop. Daniel Adams placed fourth in the Alaskan high kick and one hand reach. Ashley Hoglund (third) and Eric Hartman (fifth) each placed in the Eskimo stick pull. Kevin Horton (third in the toe kick), Will Byrd (fifth in the one foot high kick) and Lacey Holmes (fourth in the seal hop) also placed for Mat-Su.