Jarnel Hughes will be looking to win his first world title in Budapest in August. Photo: Getty Images/Ken Sparks. . 19.73 sec. So he took out his phone and wrote down a 200m time he thought he would run in front of 50,000 fans at the Diamond League meeting in London that afternoon.
It was a daring idea considering the British record of 19.94 seconds has stood for three decades, but athletes tend to have a pretty good idea of their current fitness.
So, after Hughes matched his prediction to the hundredth of a second, following the 100m national record of 9.83s he set last month, set a new UK 200m record of 19.73s. was at the circuit in London to see Hughes surpass his personal best. «He didn't just defeat him — he destroyed him,» Regis said.
I wrote this this morning… 🙏🏽
And I'm so proud to be the UK Men's 200m record holder ☺️
I will never forget the roar of the London crowd.
Now back to work…let's do it 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/nw6xktoq7K
— Zharnel Hughes (@zharnel_hughes) July 23, 2023
“He has everything you need. He has speed — he has stamina. Jarnel really stepped up this year to say, «I'm the main guy to worry about at the upcoming 100m and 200m World Championships.» I'm really happy for him.»
Hughes had joked in warm-up with Regis earlier in the day about the wind reading — anything over two meters per second and the record is not official — but the conditions were perfect: American two-time world champion Noah Lyles won Usain Bolt-style by 19.47 seconds, beating Letsile Tebogo by 19.50 seconds.
It was a reminder of the standards Hughes must reach to win a World Championships medal in Budapest next month, even if his best chance is likely to be over 100m, where he currently leads the world. Hughes was level with Lyles here on the 120m before the American's pedigree proved decisive over the longer distance.
The moment @zharnel_hughes became the fastest Brit in history 3
«I don't care about winning as long as I followed the plan my coach wanted and we set a British record,» Hughes said. “We have things we can work on. I am still figuring it out. I think Noah was just using me as a rabbit. I completed my race … he rushed past me. I'm not upset.»
Hughes lives in Jamaica, where he is coached by Glen Mills, Bolt's mentor, and Regis is convinced the 28-year-old will improve even more ahead of the World Championships next month and the Paris Olympics exactly 12 months later.
“It was a great 200m run,” said Regis. “In my estimation… if he hadn’t tried to pressure Noah with 50 meters to go, he would have run faster. I think his coach will probably see it. I don't have to tell him anything because he's better than me. I just let him do his thing — go ahead and set this record at 19.50 seconds. It's time for him to set a record where no one else will be able to set it for another 30 years.»
Hughes was also part of the British 4x100m relay team, which finished second behind Japan on Sunday, but it turned out that Eugene Amo-Daji — the accountant who ran 9.93 seconds earlier this year — is not currently part of the British team.
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Adam Jemil admitted. that «it would make sense to integrate him into the team», but it is clear that the relay is currently not in the plans of the 30-year-old footballer. «Everyone has their own way to Budapest,» said Cemil.
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