Mills hails Hughes’ courage after Euro gold
Four months ago, Zharnel Hughes was disqualified for impeding the runner-up, Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, after crossing the line first in the 200 metres final at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
It would have been the British runner’s first senior individual title. But his coach, Glen Mills, believes the disappointment in March might have been a blessing in disguise as he thinks it fuelled Hughes to win the 100m at the European Championship yesterday.
“I am very happy for him because after the disappointment of the Commonwealth Games, where he won and it was taken from him and to come now and to be champ of Europe it says a lot of about his courage,” Mills said.
PREVENT A SWEEP
Hughes won the race in 9.95 seconds for his mother country Great Britain on a day when the British showed that they are the superpowers in European sprinting after claiming four medals in both 100 metres.
Hughes’ teammate Reece Prescod finished second with 9.96 seconds.
Jak Ali Harvey, who switched allegiance from Jamaica to Turkey in 2015, finished third in 10.01 to prevent a sweep of the medals by the British as Chijindu Ujah finished fourth in 10.06.
Rising star Dina-Asher Smith blitzed the British record on her way to the women’s title in 10.85 seconds.
Though Mills was pleased with the victory, he believes that Hughes could have gone much faster.
“The time is not an indication of how fast he is over 100m at this time. He did very well in the semis in terms of his execution but not so well in the final, but he is still learning how to run the 100m, so I won’t hold it against him,” Mills said.