Zharnel Hughes smashes 200m heat as Keeley Hodgkinson and Dina Asher-Smith also progress to semi-Finals

Updated 23/08/2023 at 16:27 GMT

It was a great morning for Great Britain at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Fresh off his first medal, a bronze, in the 100m, Zharnel Hughes soared to victory in his 200m heat to book a place in the semi-finals. There was a similar result for Dina Asher Smith in the women's event. Keeley Hodgkinson was also successful in the 800m heats.

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Both Zharnel Hughes and Dina-Asher Smith won their 200m heats respectively to qualify them for the event semi-finals. Keely Hodgkinson also took victory in her 800m heat as GB’s stars all eye medal positions at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest,

Hodgkinson, 21, finished in a time of 1 minute 59.53 seconds in her 800m qualifying heat, crossing the line first after moving clear of competitors in the closing stages of her run.

“I felt like I ran a good race. I trusted in my last 200m to get me through,” Hodgkinson explained to British Athletics.

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“I am in really good shape, and I am ready for any type of race”

GB teammate Jemma Reekie joins Hogkinson with a time of 1 minute 59.71s but Isabelle Boffey misses out on a semi final position finishing in sixth, running at 2 minutes 01.40s.

After claiming his first individual global medal in the men’s 100m, Hughes was in great spirits ahead of his 200m qualifying heats and was drawn into the first heat of seven.

His third sub-20 second run time of the year proved the fastest for Thursday’s semi-finals as he ranked first overall by 0.06s. He was followed by Kenny Bednarek and reigning 200m global champion, Noah Lyles.

“It was a stroll, I felt like I was warming up,” Hughes told British Athletics, “I feel inspired. The 100m woke me up. It has made me hungry to go out and win another medal.”

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Dina Asher-Smith faced disappointment in the women’s 100m final on Monday as she placed in eighth position. However, she had no issue winning her 200m heat in 22.46 seconds as she aims to repeat her 2019 world champion performance.

Asher-Smith is joined by fellow Brits Neita and Williams in qualifying for the 200m semis.

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