Zharnel Hughes is confident that retaining his British 200m title at the Novuna UK Athletics Championships is a precursor to further success at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham this August. The 30-year-old Olympic bronze medallist bounced back from a narrow defeat in the 100m to dominate the 200m final with a commanding time of 20.04 seconds, finishing 0.31 seconds ahead of Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
Dominant performance sets the stage
Hughes, who was pipped to the 100m title by Romell Glave by just three-hundredths of a second, produced a superb performance in the 200m to retain his crown. The result qualifies him for the European Championships, which will be held on the same Alexander Stadium track. Hughes has already won four gold medals at the European Championships and is eager to add to that tally.
“This result most definitely gives me confidence,” said Hughes. “This was a precursor to what’s coming at the Euros. My body’s a bit tired, but I know by the time the Euros come around I’ll be feeling much better and a lot sharper because that’s really where the aim is.”
Home crowd advantage
Hughes is no stranger to success in Birmingham, having won 4x100m gold and 200m silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the same venue. He expects the West Midlands crowd to provide rapturous support once again. The men’s 100m final at the European Championships is scheduled for August 11, with the 200m final taking place under Friday night lights three days later.
“The Europeans are going to be fun. It's going to be exciting. I know all the fans will show up in huge numbers, and I'm looking forward to embracing the whole crowd,” Hughes added. “I competed here [at the Alexander Stadium] before at the Commonwealth Games, and it was massive. The crowd was electrifying. So, I'm looking forward to the same experience again, especially with family and friends who are going to be here as well.”
British hopes and Italian challenge
Hughes is among several British athletes aiming to make their mark on home soil, including Glave and Jeremiah Azu. However, they will face stiff competition from Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion over 100m, who is bidding for a continental hat-trick.
Novuna is the Official Finance Partner of British Athletics and proud sponsor of the GB & NI Athletics Team. From everyday goals to world-class dreams, Novuna backs the ambition of millions across the UK — from supporting British businesses and individuals’ plans, to powering British Athletics on the global stage.
