Hughes upbeat over prospects for gold challenge
Just a couple of days ago, it seemed a given that Christian Coleman would continue his ascent up the global sprinting ranks by upgrading his world 100metres silver from two years ago for gold in Doha next month.
Yet with the shock news that he is fighting to avoid a ban after claims he may have missed three drugs tests, suddenly the landscape seems unclear. Coleman is understood to be disputing one of the three possible failures under the anti-doping “whereabouts” system, although his legal team have just five weeks until the World Championships to make their case. If unsuccessful, attention turns to who may triumph in his absence.
The most likely favourite is world champion Justin Gatlin, also of the United States, who has twice served doping bans. Beyond that, the field is wide open. Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru has barely any international experience and has raced just once since winning the US collegiate title in 9.86 seconds in June, while other medal candidates include South Africa’s Akani Simbine and former world champion Yohan Blake.
Yet Coleman’s potential absence has also hugely increased the chances of Britain having a first man on a global 100m podium since Darren Campbell claimed world bronze 16 years ago. Zharnel Hughes, who won the European title last summer, is confident he can be that man. Hughes moved second on the British all-time list with a personal best 9.91 last year and has broken 10 seconds in his past four races. His immediate goal is to win the British title today in the absence of last year’s champion Reece Prescod, whose injury is likely to rule him out of the World Championships, but he believes he can also run quick enough to beat the best in the world next month.
“I ran 9.96 in London in the heats [at last month’s Diamond League meeting] which was quite easy and I shut down from far out,” said Hughes. “I believe I can run 9.8, possibly a 9.7, but we’ll see. Winning the European title was a phenomenal experience. It was the year we decided I would like to take on the 100m again and getting the gold medal and championship record as well was just another stepping stone for me.”
With Coleman at one and Gatlin two, Hughes is placed third over 100m in the sport’s new world rankings system. “I’m quite sure [my rivals] have seen that,” Hughes said. “I’m sure they’ve noticed they can’t slack up.”