NYC Grand Prix: Zharnel Hughes breaks Linford Christie’s 30-year British 100m record with 9.83 finish

Zharnel Hughes ran 9.83 seconds to break Linford Christie’s 30-year British 100m record in New York.

The 27-year-old’s effort was 0.04 seconds quicker than Christie’s run at the World Championships back in 1993.

Hughes’ effort is the quickest time in the world so far this year and the second fastest ever by a European athlete.

Only Italy’s Marcell Jacobs’ time of 9.80 to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 stands above Hughes’ 9.83.

“I woke up with a dream this morning,” Hughes said. “This morning I woke up with 9.83 on my mind.

“When I looked at the clock and saw 9.83, I don’t know if you saw my reaction, but I was like, ‘What just happened there?’ It actually came through.

“I wasn’t coming up here thinking about breaking records – I just wanted to run fast.

“I didn’t try to do anything crazy. I didn’t try to say, ‘Get the perfect start’ – I didn’t get the perfect start — but I relaxed and that’s what’s really important for me.”

Christie himself was delighted that his record has finally been topped, and is looking forward to “seeing him, shaking his hand and telling him that this is long overdue”.

Hughes added: “I always give respect to Linford. He always supports me every time I’m in the UK, and sometimes he helps out with my training sessions.”

He beat competitions from Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake [9.93] and Christian Coleman [10.02] to clinch victory at the New York Grand Prix on Saturday.