ZHARNEL HUGHES dedicated his UK Athletics Championships win to his late aunt in an emotional post-race speech.
Hughes missed his aunt’s funeral to compete in the competition, where he triumphed in the 100m, on Saturday.
Hughes – Britain’s fastest man – recovered from a laboured start to pip world indoor gold medallist Jeremiah Azu and defending champion Louie Hinchcliffe to victory.
And he was overcome with emotion after the race as he paid tribute to his late aunt Iola, who was being buried in Anguilla.
The 30-year-old said: “Today is a very difficult day for me.
“‘My auntie is getting buried right now. Her funeral is going on and I’m missing out.
“I was very close with her, so today was a bit of a mental strength game for me.
“I almost started crying. This win was for her.”
Hughes ran a 9.94 in Birmingham as he wrestled his title back from Azu, who ran a 9.97.
Hinchliffe, meanwhile, turned in a 10.01 run.
Hughes is set to return to the track next month at the World Championships in Tokyo.
And he’ll be hoping the same fortune which followed him after he scooped the British crown in 2023 will be with him in Japan.
But this time around, he’ll be hoping to improve on the bronze medal he took home in Budapest.
