Briton Zharnel Hughes Sets World’s Best Time in 100m at New York Grand Prix
In a stunning display of speed and athleticism, Briton Zharnel Hughes achieved the best performance in the world this season in the 100m event at the Grand Prix of athletics in New York. Hughes clocked an impressive time of 9.83 seconds, breaking the old record for the United Kingdom.
The 27-year-old sprinter was ecstatic about his achievement, stating, “9.83 is a dream. I wrote it down this morning.” Hughes couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the time register on the screen at the Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, just across from Manhattan.
With a favorable wind of 1.3m/sec, Hughes surpassed his previous personal best of 9.91 seconds set in 2018. His remarkable performance also established a new UK record, surpassing Linford Christie’s 9.87 seconds at the 1987 World Championships in Stuttgart, 36 years ago.
Notably, Hughes’ time is the second-best in European history for the 100m event, only behind Italian Marcell Jacobs’ 9.80 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Hughes, a double European champion in the 100m and 4x100m relay in 2018, showcased a fantastic finish to defeat Jamaican Ackeem Blake (9.93 seconds) and American Christian Coleman (10.02 seconds) at the New York meet. This event served as a crucial preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for August 19-27.
When asked about his future prospects, Hughes confidently stated, “Everything is possible” for the rest of the season.
In another remarkable performance at the Grand Prix, American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her exploration of the 400m flat with a victory and an impressive time of 49.51 seconds. This time was even better than her performance two weeks ago in Paris (49.71 seconds).
McLaughlin-Levrone, a 23-year-old American, is a double Olympic champion in 2021 (400m hurdles and 4x400m relay) and the world champion in 2022 over hurdles, setting an unthinkable world record of 50.68 seconds. She now aims to beat the legendary German athlete Marita Koch’s lap record of 47.60 seconds set in 1985.
Reflecting on her race strategy, McLaughlin-Levrone explained, “I started a little more cautiously, to feel the second part of the race a little better.” She acknowledged that the flat race is more challenging, as it is difficult to determine the pedaling cadence halfway through. However, she remains confident that progress takes time.
Other notable performances at the Grand Prix included American prodigy Athing Mu’s successful comeback in the 800m race, winning with a time of 1 minute 58.73 seconds. Additionally, Noah Lyles, a crowd favorite, put on a show in the 200m event, winning comfortably with a time of 19.83 seconds.
In the women’s 100m hurdles, American Keni Harrison, the second-fastest woman in the history of the discipline, achieved a time of 12.29 seconds. However, the wind conditions (+2.8m/sec) were deemed too favorable for an official record.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, American Daniel Roberts emerged victorious with a time of 13.01 seconds, his best performance of the season. He finished ahead of his compatriot Devon Allen, who recorded his best time of 2023 with 13.04 seconds.
The Grand Prix in New York showcased exceptional talent and set the stage for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest. Fans and athletes alike are eagerly anticipating more thrilling performances as the season progresses.
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How did Zharnel Hughes’ performance at the New York Grand Prix compare to his previous personal best and the UK record?
In an outstanding demonstration of speed and athleticism, British athlete Zharnel Hughes achieved the fastest time in the world this year in the 100m event at the New York Grand Prix. Hughes completed the race in an impressive time of 9.83 seconds, surpassing the previous UK record.
The 27-year-old sprinter expressed his joy at his achievement, remarking, “9.83 is a dream. I wrote it down this morning.” Hughes was incredulous when he saw his time displayed on the screen at the Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, just off Manhattan.
Benefiting from a favorable wind of 1.3m/sec, Hughes bettered his previous personal best of 9.91 seconds, which he set in 2018. His exceptional performance also broke the long-standing UK record set by Linford Christie at the 1987 World Championships in Stuttgart, a record that had stood for 36 years.
It is noteworthy that Hughes’ time is the second-fastest in European history for the 100m event, second only to Italian athlete Marcell Jacobs’ 9.80 seconds at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Hughes, who is a two-time European champion in the 100m and a gold medallist in the 4x100m relay in 2018, showcased an incredible finish to outpace Jamaican Ackeem Blake (9.93 seconds) and American Christian Coleman (10.02 seconds) at the New York event. This competition served as vital preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, which are scheduled for August 19-27.
When asked about his future prospects, Hughes expressed confidence, stating, “Everything is possible” for the remainder of the season.
In another exceptional performance at the Grand Prix, American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her exploration of the 400m flat event with a victory.
“An exceptional performance by Zharnel Hughes! Setting the world’s best time of the season in the 100m at the New York Grand Prix showcases his immense talent and dedication. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!”
“An impressive display of speed by British sprinter Zharnel Hughes, setting the world’s best time of the season in the 100m at the New York Grand Prix. A thrilling performance that emphasizes his potential for success in future competitions. Congratulations on a fantastic achievement!”