Pan Am U20 gold medalist Juriad Hughes joins Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE – Minnesota sprinter and jumper Juriad Hughes, Jr. has signed a national letter of intent with Arkansas and will join the Razorbacks in the 2024 fall semester.

Hughes, from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, established a career best of 24-11.5 in the long jump in 2023 during his junior season at Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota. He also has sprint bests of 10.81 and 21.67 (21.60w) along with an indoor best of 24-11 in the long jump.

The leap of 24-11.5 earned Hughes a victory at the 2023 Pan American U20 Championships in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Hughes finished second at the USATF U20 Championships with a mark of 24-10.75 to make Team USA for the Pan Am event.

Additional victories in the long jump in 2023 included the Minnesota State meet (24-10.75w), Nike Outdoor Nationals (24-8.75) and Nike Indoor Nationals (24-11).

At the 2023 Minnesota State Championships, Hughes also collected a bronze medal as a member of the 4 x 100m relay and placed fifth in the 200m with a wind-aided 21.60 following a 21.71 in the prelims.

During the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals, Hughes finished third in the 100m with a 10.90. A week later he improved to 10.81 in winning the AAU Minnesota District Qualifier and clocked 10.82 to win the AAU Region 14 Qualifier while adding a 200m victory in 21.68.

As a sophomore in 2022, Hughes finished third in the USATF Junior Olympic Championship long jump with a 23-11.75w performance.