Zharnel Hughes runs 9.83 to break Linford Christie's long-standing British men's 100m record
- Published
Four-time European champion Zharnel Hughes helped Great Britain to world 4x100m relay bronze last year
Zharnel Hughes has broken Linford Christie's British men's 100m record, which had stood for 30 years, by clocking 9.83 seconds in New York.
The 27-year-old took 0.04 secs off the previous mark of 9.87, which Christie set at the World Championships in 1993.
Hughes said he was looking forward to "seeing him, shaking his hand and telling him that this is long overdue".
Hughes' new record is the fastest time in the world this year, and the second fastest ever by a European athlete.
Only Italy's Marcell Jacobs, who ran 9.80 to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, has run faster.
Hughes, who won European 200m gold and 100m silver last year, beat Jamaica's Ackeem Blake (9.93) to clinch victory at the New York Grand Prix on Saturday.
On breaking Christie's record, he said: "I always give respect to Linford. He always supports me every time I'm in the UK, and sometimes he helps out with my training sessions."
Saturday's race also featured the United States' 2019 world 100m champion Christian Coleman, who finished third in 10.02.
Coached by Glenn Mills, who helped Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt win his eight Olympic medals, Hughes powered away from the field in impressive fashion over the final 50m.
Initially in disbelief after seeing his time, Hughes will take great confidence from the performance with less than two months until the World Championships in Budapest.
Before Saturday's race, his personal best had been 9.91, which he set in 2018.
"I woke up with a dream this morning," Hughes said. "This morning I woke up with 9.83 on my mind.
"When I looked at the clock and saw 9.83, I don't know if you saw my reaction, but I was like, 'What just happened there?' It actually came through."
British men to run under 10 seconds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Time | Athlete | Date | Place |
9.83 | Zharnel Hughes | 24 June 2023 | New York (United States) |
9.87 | Linford Christie | 15 August 1993 | Stuttgart (Germany) |
9.91 | James Dasaolu | 13 July 2013 | Birmingham (England) |
9.93 | Reece Prescod | 31 May 2022 | Ostrava (Czech Republic) |
9.93 | Eugene Amo-Dadzie | 16 June 2023 | Graz (Austria) |
9.96 | CJ Ujah | 8 June 2014 | Hengelo (Netherlands) |
9.96 | Joel Fearon | 30 July 2016 | Bedford (England) |
9.97 | Dwain Chambers | 22 August 1999 | Seville (Spain) |
9.97 | Adam Gemili | 7 June 2015 | Birmingham (England) |
9.98 | Jason Gardener | 2 July 1999 | Lausanne (Switzerland) |
9.99 | Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake | 13 May 2017 | Columbia (United States) |
Before thinking about the worlds, the British Championships - which double as the trials for a place in the worlds team - will take place in Manchester next month.
Looking forward, Hughes said: "Anything is possible. The great thing is, we haven't started speed work yet, so this is just raw speed and endurance. My coach is going to be elated."
The next fastest times in the world so far this year have been recorded by Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala (9.84secs) and reigning world champion Fred Kerley of the US (9.88secs).
How will Princess Georgiana cope Down Under? A riotous royal comedy starring Catherine Tate
Is it time more of us bought an electric car? Panorama investigates why there are so few electric cars on the UK's roads
