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Zharnel Hughes predicted exact time before breaking British 200m record

Zharnel Hughes set a new British 200m mark of 19.73 seconds at his home Diamond League meeting in London; latest record comes just one month after Hughes broke Linford Christie's long-standing 100m mark; Hughes credit Kobe Bryant's 'Mamba Mentality' for his recent success

Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain after finishing third and setting a new British record in the Men's 200m at the London Stadium
Image: Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain after finishing third and setting a new British record in the Men's 200m at the London Stadium

Zharnel Hughes had a premonition he would blitz the British 200m record in the specific time of 19.73 seconds ahead of doing so at Sunday's sold-out London Diamond League meet.

The 28-year-old warmed up for next month's World Championships in Budapest by impressively shaving 0.21 seconds off the previous national mark of 19.94, set by John Regis in 1993.

Hughes revealed post-race that he had earlier written his precise finishing time, which was only good enough for third place behind Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, in a notebook.

His latest feat was witnessed by around 50,000 spectators at London Stadium and comes just a month after he broke Linford Christie's 30-year old 100m record when he ran 9.83 seconds in New York.

"It's the exact time," he said. "If you want to come around here, you can check it out.

"It depends how I am feeling and, if I know I am in good shape, I just write down a time and I use that time as a target.

"I don't care about winning as long as I execute the plan that my coach wanted and we get the British record. I wanted to do it here on home soil and I did it."

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Left to right: Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Noah Lyles of the USA in the Men's 200m during the Diamond League meeting at the London Stadium
Image: Left to right: Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Noah Lyles of the USA in the Men's 200m during the Diamond League meeting at the London Stadium

Hughes previously ran 19.77 with an illegal wind speed to claim the UK 200m title in Manchester earlier this month.

He burst out of the blocks on Sunday and pushed American world champion Lyles hard before his rival and Tebogo of Botswana moved clear on the home straight.

Hughes: Kobe's Mamba Mentality inspired record

Kobe Bryant
Image: Zharnel Hughes credited his 'Kobe Bryant mentality' for setting the new records recently

Hughes credited a "Kobe Bryant mentality" - known as the 'Mamba Mentality' - for his impressive recent results and warned he can become "much faster".

"I've seen some little bits I can work on - and it's exciting for me," he said.

"I'm not pressured one bit. I am enjoying myself. I can get much faster.

"I spoke to you about that Kobe Bryant mentality. For me, I just wanted to go there and give it a great performance."

Hughes broke away from his post-race interview to watch compatriot Dina Asher-Smith finish second in the women's 100m, before Britain's Jemma Reekie capped a stirring end to Sunday's action by clinching 800m glory.

Dina Asher-Smith in action as she competes in the Women's 100m Final at the Diamond League meeting in London
Image: Dina Asher-Smith in action as she competes in the Women's 100m Final at the Diamond League meeting in London

Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith crossed the line in 10.85 seconds, 0.10sec behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, while compatriot Daryll Neita finished fourth.

"I am always disappointed not to win but this shows I am building," said Asher-Smith.

"It is all about the end of August and Budapest, which isn't a long way away, so I am excited.

"I managed to see the end of the men's 200m and I am so pleased for Zharnel. British sprinting is doing so well."