(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –Zharnel Hughes became the first British man to make the 100m podium at a World Championships for 20 years by claiming bronze as Noah Lyles triumphed.
The 28-year-old Briton clocked 9.88 seconds – the same time as Botswana’s silver medallist Letsile Tebogo in a wide-open men’s final.
American Lyles took gold in 9.83 in Budapest.
It is a first individual global medal for Hughes, who broke two long-standing British sprint records this season.
His medal followed on from Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s heptathlon gold on Sunday and is Britain’s third of the championships.
European 200m champion Hughes has displayed his global medal credentials throughout the best season of his career, smashing Linford Christie’s 30-year 100m mark by running 9.83.
That was a time matched this year only by entertainer Lyles in claiming a popular victory on Sunday night.
Lyles had raised expectations by predicting he would run 9.65 in the 100m before breaking Usain Bolt’s 200m world record by clocking 19.10.
While not quite reaching that ambitious target, Lyles – the reigning 200m champion – showed he will be tough to beat as he targets a sprint treble including 4x100m gold.
“I came here for three golds,” he said. “I’ve ticked off one, others are coming. The 100m was the hardest one. I will have fun with the event I love now.”
Jamaican 22-year-old Oblique Seville narrowly missed out on a medal as he also crossed the line in 9.88 while 2022 champion Fred Kerley suffered a shock semi-final exit.
Britain’s Eugene Amo-Dadzie’s fourth-place semi-final finish in 10.03 secs was not enough to see him qualify, while Reece Prescod (10.26) also failed to make the final.
Hughes, having also run 19.73 to break John Regis’ 200m record in July, will join Lyles in beginning his bid for a 200m medal in Wednesday’s heats.
