Zharnel Hughes was emotional as he dedicated his victory in the British 100m championship to his late aunt, whose funeral coincided with the competition. Despite his inner struggles, Hughes managed to cross the finish line first in 9.94 seconds, just ahead of Jeremiah Azu. The world indoor champion, Azu, offered consolation to Hughes during the medal ceremony, understanding the weight of his emotions on the day of his aunt’s passing.
Expressing his emotions, Hughes mentioned the difficulty of the day, revealing his close bond with his late aunt. He acknowledged the mental strength required to compete under such circumstances and credited his victory to her memory, expressing his belief that she would have been proud to witness his triumph.
In the women’s final, Daryll Neita faced disqualification for a false start, opening the door for Amy Hunt to secure her spot in the World Championships with a lifetime best time of 11.02 seconds. Despite finishing second, Desiree Henry still needs to meet the qualifying time to secure her place in the upcoming event.
Looking ahead, Hunt is geared up for the 200m event and a competitive clash with Dina Asher-Smith, aiming to add another title to her name after her victory. Meanwhile, Georgia Hunter Bell eyes the national 800m title before contemplating a potential double challenge in the World Championships, seeking advice from Dame Kelly Holmes on managing the two distances effectively.
With Keely Hodgkinson sidelined due to injury, Hunter Bell sees a clearer path to success in the 800m event, considering the dominance of Faith Kipyegon in the 1500m race. Despite already securing her spot in Tokyo for the longer distance, Hunter Bell weighs her options for maximizing her chances of winning a medal.
In the pole vault, Molly Caudery showcased her prowess by clinching the gold medal, while Lawrence Okoye set a championship record in the discus throw. Anna Purchase also impressed with a championship record in the hammer throw. Alessandro Schenini surprised in the men’s long jump, claiming victory, as Alicia Barrett triumphed in the 100m hurdles and Scott Lincoln secured his 20th national title in shot put.