Zharnel Hughes insists he can run even FASTER after breaking Linford Christie’s British 100m record… and credits Usain Bolt’s sprint mentor for helping him
- Zharnel Hughes believes he can become an even faster sprinter after record win
- Hughes stormed to victory in New York to beat Linford Christie’s British record
- The 27-year-old has credited Usain Bolt’s mentor for helping him improve
Zharnel Hughes has warned the world he can run even faster after breaking Linford Christie’s 30-year-old British 100metres record.
The 27-year-old clocked 9.83seconds to win the New York Grand Prix on Saturday, bettering Christie’s best time of 9.87secs from the World Championships in Stuttgart in August 1993.
Hughes’ time was the best in the world this year, laying down a serious marker ahead of the World Championships in Budapest in August.
The Anguillan-born British sprinter is coached by Usain Bolt’s old mentor Glen Mills and his milestone run came on the same Icahn Stadium track where the Jamaican set his first world record in 2008.
‘Coach Mills is a great coach,’ said Hughes. ‘He coached the fastest man in the world and he has an eye for error and will critique everything he sees.
Zharnel Hughes (second left) believes he can get even faster after storming through the field to win the 100 metres in New York on Saturday
Hughes was delighted after breaking Linford Christie’s British record that had stood for 30 years
‘The great thing is we haven’t started speed work yet, so this is just raw speed and endurance. Anything is possible.’
Hughes’ previous best time was 9.91secs, which he ran in 2018. He won the 100m at the European Championships that year and claimed a silver in the same event last year, but he has not claimed an individual medal at the Olympics or World Championships.
‘In 2015 I came here and I ran against Usain Bolt and it was memorable,’ he said about his New York run. ‘I wanted to come back here again and prove myself, and prove to the world that I’m here.
‘I’m not sure many people expected this, but patience is the word. It’s amazing and something I’ve been working toward for a while.’
On breaking Christie’s record, Hughes added: ‘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.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing him, shaking his hand, and telling him that this is long overdue.’
Christie had held the record for three decades, setting the mark when he won World Championship gold in 1993
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