Track and Field Hall of Fame

This Peoria High athlete placed 1st in the Journal-Star Honor Roll Meet in the pole vault, high jump and 110 yard high hurdles. He won the 1984 Junior Olympics decathlon and repeated that performance at the USATF Junior Nationals a month later.

At Western Illinois University he won the AMCU-8 conference decathlon title in 1985 and repeated in 1986. That same year he won the decathlon title at the USA-Canada Junior meet and capped his WlU career by winning the decathlon title at the Drake Relays.

Transferring to Arizona, Huff won the PAC-10 decathlon titles his junior and senior years. He won the 1989 NCAA decathlon national title after placing 2nd the previous year.

After college, Derek finished 6th at the 1992 Olympic trials and 2nd at the USA-Spain meet in 1993.