Jarnel Hughes breaks Linford Christie's 30-year-old British 100m record

Jarnel Hughes' (second from left) the new record is the fastest time in the world this year. Credit: Getty Images/Sarah Stier

The title of Britain's fastest man has changed hands for the first time since 1993 after Jarnel Hughes beat Linford Christie's 30-year-old hundred. Meter sprint record.

At the New York race, Hughes used a fast start to overtake Jamaican sprinter Akim Blake and lower Christie's British record from 9.87 to 9.83 seconds.

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Hughes also beat American 2019 world champion Christian Coleman in a time that was also the fastest in the world this year and the second best of any European athlete.

It is known that Christie set his personal record by becoming world champion in 1993, which followed a year after his 100m triumph at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

“This morning I woke up with a dream. . . I woke up this morning with 9.83 on my mind,” said Hughes, who also helped Britain win bronze in the 4x100m relay at the Eugene World Championships last year.

“When I looked at my watch and saw 9:83 – I don’t know if you noticed my reaction – I thought: “What just happened there!” It really happened. In 2015 I came here and ran against Usain Bolt and it was unforgettable. I wanted to come back here again and prove myself and prove to the world that I'm here.”

Hughes is now training with Bolt's trainer, Glenn Mills, and his form suggests he will be one of the best. favorite for the world championships in two months.

His result follows that of Eugene Amo-Daji, an accountant who finished fifth on the UK all-time list last week with a run of 9.93 seconds. in Austria.

“I didn’t drive here thinking about breaking records—I just wanted to run fast,” said Hughes, who planned to reward himself with a New York pizza.”

“I didn't try to do anything crazy. I didn't try to say 'Great start' — I didn't have a perfect start — but I relaxed and that's really important to me.»

The World Championships to be staged in Budapest, Hughes added: «Everything is possible. The great thing is that we haven't started working on speed yet, so it's just pure speed and stamina. My coach will be delighted.”