Britain’s Zharnel Hughes made headlines on Saturday at the New York Grand Prix with his sensational performance in the 100m race. Hughes clocked a time of 9.83 seconds, which not only marked the best performance of the season but also broke the old UK record. The 27-year-old sprinter was ecstatic about his achievement, stating that 9.83 was a dream he had written down earlier in the day.
With a favorable wind of +1.3 m/s, Hughes surpassed his previous personal best of 9.91 seconds set in 2018. His time also established a new British record, surpassing Linford Christie’s 9.87 seconds at the 1987 World Championships in Stuttgart. It is the second-best time in European history for the 100m event, only behind 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 remarkable finish to defeat Jamaican Ackeem Blake (9.93) and American Christian Coleman (10.02) in the race. The New York Grand Prix served as a preparation event for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for August 19-27. Hughes expressed his belief that anything is possible for the rest of the season.
In another impressive performance, American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated the 400m hurdles and continued her exploration of the 400m flat. The 23-year-old, who won double Olympic gold in 2021 and became the world champion in 2022 with a world record time of 50.68 seconds, secured victory in the 400m race with a convincing time of 49.51 seconds. This time was even better than her performance in Paris two weeks ago (49.71 seconds).
McLaughlin-Levrone now aims to break the lap world record of 47.60 seconds set by Marita Koch in 1985. Reflecting on her race in Paris, where she fell behind specialist Marileidy Paulino after a fast start, McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed that she started more cautiously in New York to improve her performance in the second half of the race. She emphasized that progress takes time and acknowledged the difficulty of determining pedaling cadence in flat races compared to hurdles.
In other events, American prodigy Athing Mu made a successful comeback in the 800m race, winning with a time of 1:58.73. Noah Lyles, a crowd favorite, won the 200m race effortlessly with a time of 19.83 seconds. In the women’s 100m hurdles, Keni Harrison achieved a top time of 12.29 seconds, although the wind conditions (+2.8m/s) were deemed too favorable. In the men’s 110m hurdles, Daniel Roberts emerged victorious with a time of 13.01 seconds, followed closely by his compatriot Devon Allen (13.04 seconds).
The performances at the New York Grand Prix showcased the incredible talent and determination of these athletes as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships. Zharnel Hughes’ record-breaking run and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s continued dominance in the 400m events have set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
How did Zharnel Hughes break the previous UK record in the 100m race at the New York Grand Prix?
Britain’s Zharnel Hughes stole the show at the New York Grand Prix, delivering an outstanding performance in the 100m race. With a time of 9.83 seconds, Hughes not only recorded the best performance of the season but also shattered the previous UK record. The 27-year-old sprinter was overjoyed by his achievement, revealing that 9.83 was a dream he had written down earlier in the day.
Benefiting from a favorable wind of +1.3 m/s, Hughes eclipsed his previous personal best of 9.91 seconds, which he had set in 2018. This incredible time also established a new British record, surpassing Linford Christie’s 9.87 seconds at the 1987 World Championships in Stuttgart. Furthermore, it ranks as the second-fastest time in European history for the 100m event, only trailing Marcell Jacobs’ 9.80 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Hughes, a double European champion in the 100m and 4x100m relay in 2018, demonstrated an extraordinary finishing kick to outpace Jamaican Ackeem Blake (9.93) and American Christian Coleman (10.02) in the race. The New York Grand Prix served as a vital preparation event for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, where Hughes will undoubtedly be considered a top contender.
This incredible achievement by Briton Zharnel Hughes at the New York Grand Prix, setting the world’s best performance of the season with a blazing time of 9.83 in the 100m, solidifies his status as one of the fastest sprinters in the world. A truly outstanding feat!