Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith crowned British champions in Manc monsoon
Zharnel Hughes outran thunder and lightening to add the British 100 metres title to the national record he set last month.
The Anguilla-born star made light of a biblical monsoon to win the blue riband event at the national championships on a day made for arks.
BBC coverage of the meet, staged at the Manchester Regional Arena, was forced off air due to a loss of power as the track flooded and the crowd rushed for cover.
Incredibly, Hughes, who broke Linford Christie's 30-year old British best in New York a fortnight ago, was still able to clock a time of 10.03 seconds.
It gave him the title ahead of Reece Prescod (10.14), with Eugene Amo-Dadzie, the world’s fastest accountant, third.
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CJ Ujah, returning to athletics after failing a drugs test and being stripped of his Olympic relay medal, finished fifth in 10.31secs.
“It means everything to me to be British Champion,” a drenched Hughes said. “I will use this to get faster and become a global champion.
Britain's fastest men had misfortune of racing at height of deluge in Manchester (British Athletics via Getty Imag)“‘Come rain, sun or shine you perform regardless,’ is the slogan in Anguilla. I train in these conditions sometimes in Jamaica. I am soaked, these conditions are the worst ever.”
Defending champion Jeremiah Azu, who had eyeballed Hughes during their semi-final, slipped and fell on the line and needed medical attention as chaotic scenes forced the women’s final to be delayed.
When it did start some 25 minutes late Dina Asher-Smith showed her class to race clear and reclaim her title in 11.06secs.
Dina Asher-Smith races to victory as Scottish rival Alisha Rees crashes to earth behind her (British Athletics via Getty Imag)Imani Lansiquot (11.26) and Bianca Williams (11.29) completed the podium but Scottish record holder Alisha Rees suffered a horrendous fall mid-race.
“It has been a very British day; a very northern day!” said Asher-Smith. “But, for me, it is all about performing irrespective of everything, and being ready for anything.
“Today the rain came down so I thought I need to focus and deal with whatever it throws at you.
Keely Hodgkinson wins her 800 metres heat before weather front arrived (PA)“It was probably colder at Gateshead (in 2021) but here we had the not knowing if the race would go ahead; the waiting, going out, coming in, lightening, wind.
“This is the first time I had to really make sure I stay focused, which is good practice and lessons to be taken about how you deal with it. It is great to be national champion again.”
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Keely Hodgkinson will hope for better conditions when she looks to put right the wrongs of her last 800m race in Lausanne where she was outfoxed by Kenya’s Mary Moraa for her first loss of the year.
Jemma Reekie wins her 800m heat (Getty Images)Today’s final brings her up against defending champion Jemma Reekie, who has the spring back in her step after a turbulent period which saw her switch her coaching set-up from Andy Young in Scotland to Jon Biggs in Brighton.
“I'm in a new environment, new set-up,” she said after winning her heat in 2:02.71 to advance behind fastest qualifier Hodgkinson (2:01.16). “I'm happy, I'm healthy, I'm ready to go again.”
Reekie and Laura Muir split with coach Andy Young three months ago amid allegations of over-controlling behaviour.
“I'm not gonna sit and bad mouth my old set up because I had many, many good years,” said Reekie. “Andy took me and trained me and tried to get me to the best performance
“I came fourth at the Olympics and I'm already nearly one of the best in the world, but I want to be winning gold medals. So I needed the change.”
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