Zharnell Hughes is a citizen and athlete of the British-controlled Caribbean territory of Anguilla. Hughes is an affable and exciting sprinter, and has signaled his intention, to be a global superstar, from quite early in his Youth and Junior careers.
Early years
At the tender age of sixteen, while representing Great Britain, Hughes won the 200m at the 2012 Central American and Caribbean Youth Championship that was held in San Salvador, El Salvador. At that same Championship, he also capped a silver medal by virtue of his second place finish in the 100m.
More international success
At the 2012 Carifta Games that was held in Hamilton, Bermuda, while representing Anguilla, Hughes came third in the 100m to secure the bronze medal. One year later, at the 2013 Carifta Games that was held in Nassau, Bahamas, Hughes upgrade his bronze medal, to win gold in the said event. In that same year (2013), Zharnell Hughes also won gold in the 100m at the Pan American Junior Championship. And, one year later, he won the 200m gold at the 2014 CAC Junior Championship that was held in Morelia, Mexico.
It is noteworthy that, earlier in 2014, while representing his Alma Mater, Kingston College, Hughes won the Class 1 100m final at the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boy’s and Girl’s Championship in a Championship Record of 10.12 that stood for all of nine years. Needless to say, while competing as a youth and junior athlete, Hughes has chalked-up an enviable and impressive resume.
British record holder
The British representative, who stands at 6ft 3”, has since gone on to win the 100m gold at the 2018 European Athletic Championship. Hughes also won gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m at the 2022 edition. Recently, at the New York City Grand Prix that was held on June 24, 2023, Hughes won the 100m, to defeat Ackeem Blake of Jamaica and Christian Coleman of the USA. In the process, Hughes improved his Personal Best from 9.91 (+0.4), to 9.83 (+1.3), which is also, a new British National Record for the event. Incidentally, the 9.83 that was posted by Zharnell Hughes bettered the thirty-year-old-record of 9.87 that was previously held by the 1993 World Champion and the 1996 Olympic Champion, Linford Christie.
Hughes versatility
Zharnell Hughes is indeed a versatile sprinter, with a 200m personal best of 20.02, and 400m lifetime best 46.58, standards that were achieved in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Clearly, the future looks bright for the ever-improving twenty-seven-years-old, who trains at the Racers Track Club in Kingston, Jamaica, and under the skilled tutelage of the renowned sprint guru, Glen Mills.
As we look ahead to the 2023 World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Hughes has certainly announced himself as a major contender for the 100m World title. The question is, based on his youth, enthusiasm, motivation, pedigree and trajectory, how fast will Hughes go by the time of the World Championship? It is my considered opinion that Hughes could go as low as 9.72, to win the 100m World title.
Henley E. Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Zharnell Hughes photo courtesy of Nick Reid at Source Athletics
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