Young pretender Zharnel Hughes steals limelight ahead of Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin reprising duel
British youngster Zharnel Hughes temporarily stole the limelight from sprint duo Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin’s duel by storming through his 200m heat at the World Athletics Championships yesterday.
Hughes, who trains with six-time Olympic champion Bolt, won his heat in 20.13 seconds, while fellow Briton Danny Talbot also progressed to today’s semi-finals after finishing third in his heat with a time in 20.35.
“I think I came off too lazy on to the curve. Other than that it was a great race,” said Anguilla-born Hughes, who formally gained British citizenship in June. “To be here I feel blessed.”
Bolt and Gatlin remained on course for a rematch in tomorrow’s 200m final following the Jamaican’s victory in Sunday’s 100m, as both sailed through their heats.
Defending champion Christine Ohuruogu, meanwhile, eclipsed her season’s best time to storm into tomorrow’s 400m final. Chasing her third world title, the 31-year-old knocked 0.66secs off her previous year’s best to cruise to a semi-final win in 50.16.
Middle-distance runner Laura Muir finished a creditable fifth in the 1500m final, while Kenya’s Olympic champion David Rudisha secured his second world crown with an authoritative showing in the 800m final.