by Stuart Weir
Tokyo Preview Zharnel Hughes likes his chances in the 100 meters
In the British Championships Zharnel Hughes completed the double (19.90 and 9.94w) very decent times given that he was not pushed. At Pre he ran 9.91. At the 2023 Worlds he recorded two fourths. Now he is ready to medal. “I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m feeling relaxed. I’m looking forward to just getting the battle going right now, it’s been a long season, so I’m just ready to get going. I’m healthy and I’m strong and I’m confident.”, he told the GB track and field writers this week.
He believes that the 100m is very open and that several athletes could win in Tokyo: “The competition this year has been great, as you can see the likes of like Kishane Thompson from Jamaica and the guys from America as well. They’re running pretty good. So in order to be up there with them you have to be running some crazy times as well. So I can’t count myself out. I know for a fact that I’m a true competitor and I will show up when the time matters. So I’m looking forward to being a part of the mix and. For me, I’m looking forward to running fast times to get me at that podium, by all means necessary. I’m looking forward to give it a great fight.
“I think we are all pretty close to each other at the end of the day. It’s just a matter of executing a great race and the one who can hold the composure the best and keep their mental strength up going into the finals will prevail. And I’m definitely looking forward to being a part of the mix. I feel as if I’m in great place and my coach and I have been speaking about it. I’ve been in pretty good shape. I’m just looking forward to going out and competing. Getting through the rounds, that’s the most important thing for me and staying healthy throughout it as well”.
Street Meet in Piedmont Park
May 17, 2025, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, photo by Kevin Morris
He was also quick to dismiss any kind of personal aspect to his rivalry with Noah Lyles: “Now, to be honest with you, I never had a rivalry with him. I just know Noah’s a competitor and Noah’s going to talk and I’m going to run. He’s known for that. That’s how he sells himself. But I just look forward to competing against him and the rest of the field”.
London Athletics Meet
July 23, 2023, London, England, U.K., photo by Kevin Morris
Going back to the GB Champs, I thought those times were pretty good but Zharnel – typical athlete – wanted more! “To be honest with you – although the wins were great, they could have been better. I was under so much mental stress in regards to having lost my auntie and my mind wasn’t really there. I was just trying to keep my head above the surface and try not to get too emotional. Though they were great performances, I feel as if it could have been better. I was hoping to run some crazy times at trials but there was a false start in the 100 metres that kind of threw me off a bit. After the second try my coach mentioned to me that if the race hadn’t had a false start he was pretty sure I was gonna run another British record, which we had already spoken about – that we are going to try to break the British record”.
It is remarkable that it is ten years since Zharnel came fifth in the Worlds in Beijing. He reflected on his development in the last 10 years: “Well, a lot has changed. I am a lot, much more determined. I’ve gotten to understand the sport more. 2015 was my fourth year being a professional athlete, by the way, so quite young. I was running off of just energy, high, high energy. Right now I’m more lucky and I’ll be able to execute a lot, much better. I have lots more experience throughout the years. And I know I’m capable of being one of those guys to be reckoned with”.
Remember the end of the 2024 Olympic final? Up on the scoreboard pops “Winner Fred Kerley”. Seconds later “Winner Letsile Tebogo” and finally “Winner Noah Lyles”. I am as unsure who will win in Tokyo as the scoreboard operator in Paris.
