Illegal wind spoils another time for sprinter Hughes at UK championships

MANCHESTER, England : Zharnel Hughes came tantalisingly close to shattering another decades-old British sprint record on Sunday, winning the 200 metres at the UK Athletics Championships in a blistering 19.87 seconds, spoiled by an illegal wind.

Hughes, who had won the 100m a day earlier in a torrential downpour, dipped under the 20-second barrier for the first time in his career in drier conditions, but the wind of 2.3 metres per second was over the allowable 2.0.

"I felt amazing, I knew I was in good shape," Hughes said. "I wanted to make it special today, as in the 100m I was soaking wet! I wanted to see what I could do in the dry conditions.

"I'm relieved about the times I'm putting on display at the moment. For a long time I have known these performances have been in me, but to execute them now at this stage is brilliant. I have put so much work in this season, and it's showing."

The 27-year-old smashed Linford Christie's 30-year-old British record in the 100m two weeks ago in a world-leading 9.83, setting a statement ahead of the world championships in Budapest.

Running out of lane seven at the Manchester Regional Arena on Sunday, Hughes came out of the blocks in a few giant strides and ran blind the rest of the way. Joe Ferguson finished second in 20.43.

"The best is yet to come, dropping these times is great," Hughes said.

John Regis set the British record of 19.94 in 1993.

Daryll Neita, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist in the 4x100m relay, clocked a stadium and championship record 22.26 in the women's 200m.

Katie Snowden outsprinted Laura Muir down the homestretch to win the women's 1,500m in an upset victory over the Olympic silver medallist. Muir crossed in 4 minutes and 10.24 seconds.

"I knew my training had gone