Asher-Smith and Hughes storm to 100m Euro gold

World
Europe

Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith claimed a historic European sprint double for Britain on Tuesday as they won the men and women's 100 meters at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

Hughes, allowed to compete for Britain as he was born in Anguilla, a tiny British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), clocked a championship record of 9.95 to edge compatriot Reece Prescod by one-hundredth of a second.

Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, whose former coach Glen Mills is now working with Hughes, tweeted: "Congrats to my @racerstrack teammate @zharnel_hughes on winning the 100m @EuroAthletics."

The victory by Hughes came fast on the heels of that by Asher-Smith, who led from gun to tape for a dominant win in 10.85 seconds.

Asher-Smith's victory was the first by a British woman in the European 100m since Dorothy Hyman in Belgrade in 1962. And it was the first time Britain had claimed the two blue riband titles at the same Euro championships.

"I came here to be European champion, so I'm happy to have achieved that," said Asher-Smith, who is targeting a sprint treble.

"One race down, let's see what happens next in the 200m!"

Hughes, 23, ran 9.91 seconds this year to establish himself as the joint second-fastest British sprinter (with James Dasaolu) after Linford Christie.

Zharnel Hughes is congratulated by eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt after he won the race. /VCG Photo

Not only trained in Jamaica, Hughes' running style is very reminiscent of that of Bolt's. Accelerating from the blocks, he gradually unfolded his towering 1.92m (6ft 4in) frame, his head coming up and body hitting the famed drive phase almost exactly like Bolt.

"It was a great day for Great Britain winning two golds and one silver in sprints," said the 23-year-old Hughes.

"It is the good way towards the Olympics if I stay healthy. Usain Bolt did what he did at this stadium (setting 100 and 200m world records when winning world titles in 2009). I did the championships record and I am happy for that."

With only six of the 24 semi-finalists having even gone below the 10-sec barrier, Hughes was handed a free card when in-form Jimmy Vicaut pulled out of the final with a hamstring strain, the Frenchman having set a then-record 9.97 seconds in winning his semi-final to better Portuguese Francis Obikwelu's 2006 gold medal-winning time of 9.99.

Source(s): AFP