World Athletics Championships: Zharnel Hughes says that the Global Sprint in good health post-Usain Bolt while it targets the podium in Tokyo | Athletics news

Zharnel Hughes of GB before the world athletics championships in Tokyo: “I am filled with determination and I am quite confident in my capacity that I can always catch you at the very end. I trust myself and I trust my speed” – Hughes to run in 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Japan

Zharnel Hughes, in Great Britain, thinks that the World Sprint is in good health after the Bolt, when he targets the podium at the world athletics championships in Tokyo.

Hughes, 30, will take place in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Japan, two years after claiming bronze in the 100m in the previous world championships in Budapest.

The best time this year is the 9.75 seconds which take place by Kishane Thompson de La Jamaica with Kenny Bednarek of the United States below 9.8 s.

Hughes, whose summit of the season is 9.91s, says that there is not much to separate the best in the world and that the medals will be determined by which remains “mentally composed”.

“I think the sprint has been able to recover, in one way, since Bolt’s departure. I really think it’s in a good place,” the Briton told Sky Sports. “Times were quite good

The world record for the 100m of Usain Bolt is 9.58 seconds, established in 2009

“We struck 9.7, 9.8. Obviously, Bolt and these guys went to a different stratosphere where you use 9.5 s – Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay and these guys who run 9.6.

“But I think it is possible that we can get there. The competition is definitely there. And in terms of rivalry, I believe that we are at the same distance striking from each other.

“It’s very close. It’s just a question of who is more mentally composed of the final.”

On the strength of the British sprint, Hughes – which will be joined at the 100m by Romell Glave and Jeremiz Azu and in the 200m of Toby Harries – added: “[We have] He definitely intervened on the plate. Guys are now using under 10 consecutive.

“When Linford Christie and these guys did it at the time, it was like” Wow, it’s incredible for us “. Now, it’s almost like every season, one of us will work for 10 seconds or 9.9.

“This is a force that you have probably seen so often now. We have seen other countries working well and we want to be part of this mixture.”

I prefer the 200m, to be honest with you. This is the first event with which I started. The 100m, I love it, but it’s a bit technical. There is literally no space for errors and you need to be composed enough. You must be very precise at each step you make, the body positions.

British Sprinter Zharnel Hughes

‘I am convinced that I can always make up for you at the end’

Hughes could not win an individual medal at the Olympic Games last summer in Paris, eliminated in the semi-final of the 100m before retiring from the 200m before the sleeves due to a tight hamstrings.

He feels optimistic in front of Tokyo, however, adding: “I do not put any pressure on myself or the expectations, but I just want to pass the tour, especially. It is easy to get ahead of yourself, and I try not to do it.

“I am not fixed at times, I am especially fixed to cross the rounds and to go up on the podium, which is most important.

“I am filled with determination and I am quite confident in my ability that I can always catch you at the very end. I trust myself and I trust my speed.

Hughes took bronze per 100m at the 2023 world championships in Budapest

“The work I put at the top of this championship was huge. It will be great.

“I have always been one with whom it is counted with regard to the championships. I have always been able to position myself in the final at each major championship

“Unfortunately, last year, it did not take place because of an injury, but I feel confident.”

In the hope of the British Relay team to add a world championship medal to their Olympic bronze in 2024, Hughes said: “I just hope that we keep the head concentrated and do not look at any teams that probably ran faster than us throughout the season.

“Remember who we are and that the lion inside us will always laugh. I think we can always be on this podium once we are committed.”