After 100m victory on Saturday, Hughes runs 200m championship record of 19.90 at the Novuna UK Athletics Champs at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday
Zharnel Hughes showed the kind of form that should get him in the medal mix at the World Championships in Tokyo next month. One day after winning the UK 100m title in 9.94, he stormed to a championship record of 19.90 (1.3) in the 200m.
Entering the home straight with a big lead before easing further away, Hughes beat Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake’s mark of 20.05 from 2022. Jereem Richards’ stadium record of 19.80, however, survived.
“It was a good contest, I just had to work a bit in the home straight, but I trusted myself,” said Hughes. “Yesterday’s 100m win was pretty cool, but I wanted the 200m title more as it’s my favourite event.
“My coach will get me a lot sharper for the championships, so I am excited to see what I can do in Tokyo. Great to get 19.9 today, so lets go!”
Runner-up Jona Efoloko ran a PB of 20.42 and has the rest of this month to clock the qualifying standard of 20.16.
Efoloko said: “PB and a silver medal, but I have to be honest that I am disappointed because I was chasing that UKA standard (20.30) for worlds, I know it is there, but it is a PB and I have till late August to find it, and I do believe it is in the legs.”
Fresh from his 44.14 PB at the Diamond League in London and in the absence of Matt Hudson-Smith due to impending parenthood, Charlie Dobson was the big favourite in the men’s 400m and he delivered with 45.36 to hold off Lewis Davey (45.61) and Toby Harries (45.98).
Dobson appeared so relaxed it looked like he was easing home in a heat, but the European silver medallist always stays relaxed during his one-lap efforts and it will now be fascinating to see how he mixes it with the best at the World Champs in Tokyo.
“It was really windy down the back straight which takes it out of you a lot,” said Dobson, “so that was a big hindrance for all of us and impacted everyone’s times. I wasn’t expecting anything crazy, it was just about getting the job done.”
Twenty-four hours after winning silver in the men’s long jump behind Alessandro Shenini, Archie Yeo returned on Sunday to win the triple jump with a last-round leap of 15.79m (-0.2). “Long jump is probably my favourite event!” he said.
“I honestly didn’t know if I was going to triple jump today, it was a last-minute decision, but I am so glad I did,” he added. “This is really the last competition of the season, so I wanted to get out with the lads, and have a good time and try and jump well.”
Elsewhere, Owen Heard won the pole vault with 5.45m ahead of Adam Hague (5.25m) and Thomas Walley (5.10m).
Jake Norris took his third UK title with 74.08m in the hammer.
It was Norris’ first UK Champs without his coach, Paul Dickenson, who died in November. He said: “I am happy with it, but I am so close to the bigger throws. It is a shame it didn’t happen today, but I didn’t quite get it. Today I wasn’t too bothered about the no throws, my body was feeling good and I was moving well. The throws were far, but I just didn’t get it out right.”
More articles about the Novuna UK Athletics Champs here.
Full results here.