Huling placed fifth in the 3000 m at the 2009 USA Indoors and continued to rise in the national rankings with a runner-up finish in the steeplechase at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships behind Joshua McAdams. This earned him a place on the national team for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, where he competed in the qualifying rounds only. The end of the track saw him set a new best of 8:14.69 minutes at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels and secure a steeplechase win for his nation at the DécaNation. After a personal best of 13:24.72 to win the 5000 m at the Mt. SAC Relays, he placed fourth at the adidas Grand Prix in New York City – his debut on the new IAAF Diamond League circuit. His first national steeplechase title followed at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. A new personal best of 8:13.29 minutes came at the Athletissima meeting and he competed internationally twice that year: taking eight at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup and second at the Decánation.