Zarnel Hughes, photo by PhotoRun.net
Strong winds hampered performances at the Queensland International Track Classic in Brisbane on Wednesday (28), the final warm-up meeting before the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. But even a -1.6m/s breeze couldn’t slow down Britain’s Zharnel Hughes in the 200m.
Competing in the second of three 200m heats, Hughes sped to a 20.23 victory to finish several metres ahead of Leon Reid (20.90), recording the fastest 200m on Australian soil since 2001. Botswana’s Isaac Makwala won the first heat in 20.51 into a slightly weaker wind (-0.9m/s).
Hughes has started his 2018 in tremendous form. He ran 20.28 on his season opener in Kingston in January, and then clocked times of 10.18 and 10.01, a PB, over 100m at the same venue in February. The 22-year-old, who finished fifth in the 200m at the 2015 IAAF World Championships, now appears to be one of the medal favourites ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games.
Earlier in the evening, Hughes ran the second leg for England in the 4x100m. The team of Richard Kilty, Hughes, Adam Gemili and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey won in 38.31.
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