TF2K22: Brandi Hughes

Brandi Hughes is a hurdler in her final season at North Carolina State. She took out some time to talk to us about her life in the sport of track and field as it has taken her from one side of the country to the other.

Winners Only: You started out at Tulane and now you're at North Carolina State but let's go back. Aren't you from Washington state.

Brandi Hughes: I was actually born in California. I lived the first 14 and a half years of my life there, then my dad got a job promotion and we moved up to Washington. That's where I went to high school.

You were in high school there. You ran track. Don't you have a track and field family?

A little bit. My brother threw shot put for a little bit in high school, I guess for a year. My younger sister, she did track and field. She was more of a jumper. Her senior year she tore her ACL and then had to unfortunately stop.

Before I started track and field, I used to be a dancer and then when we moved to Washington, I never found a studio where I felt like I fit in or I felt super comfortable, so I kind of just stopped dancing. Back in California my best friends ran track so when I got to Washington, I still wanted to be active. I thought 'they ran track, so let me see what's going on with that.' From then on I just continued to run.

What kind of dance did you do?

Like ballet. I danced competitively with a dance studio. I did tap, jazz, modern hip-hop.

What led you to Tulane?

One of the things is Tulane is known to be the Ivy League of the south and I'm very into academics. I'm very studious. I chose that so I could pursue a rigorous academic career along with running. New Orleans is a very fun city to be in. It's just a whole package.

What did you study?

I got my bachelor of arts in psychology and early childhood education.

You were multiple time All-Conference while at Tulane and you won the American Athletic Conference title once correct?

One time. My sophomore year. My freshman year I got third place. My sophomore year I got first.

So when you win it that early, you think you're about to win this all the time right?

That was the goal but I had some nagging injuries after that and it didn't pan out like I wanted it to but I was so excited my sophomore year. I was ready. I was working really hard. I was kind of the underdog and I just went out and did what I know I could do and I ended up winning.

How many more years do you have left?

This is my last outdoor season. I used all of my indoor eligibility at Tulane.

What made you choose to compete at North Carolina State? Most people think basketball when they think about your current school. Tell us about the track and field program.

I know for sure our cross-country team is starting to make itself a major player on the map. We just won the national title. My coach is Allen Johnson. He was an Olympic gold medalist (1996) and that was another reason I was drawn to NC State. He won a gold medal in the event that I run. He must know how to do it, so let me get some coaching from him, so I can fulfill my dream of going pro and running in the Olympics and hopefully medaling.

He's an absolutely great coach. I love him. He's very much into the mechanics of running and making sure that you master the mechanics so that you can run as fast as you can and actually achieve your goals. I really appreciate him as a coach because he doesn't set a ceiling for anybody. He doesn't look at athletes and cap them. He thinks all of his athlete can get to a high level if you put in the hard work and take the advice he gives.

I really appreciate that because I had coaches in the past that didn't have the same [philosophy].

We might come to the Raleigh Relays to cover you running during outdoor season.

Okay, sounds good. Would love the support!