Dina dazzles but is pipped into second
IT says something about Dina asher-smith’s escalating expectations that pinching second place in the Diamond League final felt like a small defeat.
a harsh self-assessment, perhaps, considering the strength of the 100metres field and the fact that the winner, Murielle ahoure of the Ivory Coast, is the world indoor champion.
But that is the company asher-smith keeps these days and so there was a slight sting to clocking 11.08sec into a headwind, placing her 0.07sec behind the 31-year- old, who led from gun to tape.
It might have been a third-place finish but asher-smith passed african champion Marie- Josee Ta Lou a fraction before the line to claim second. It was a psychological victory over the only woman who has matched her at the distance this year, with the pair sharing the 2018 world lead of 10.85sec.
That time, and her world-leading mark of 21.89sec for the 200m, are what set this season apart for asher-smith. The glint of three European gold medals in Berlin caught the eye but it is the clock digits that confirm the 22-year-old Londoner will be a major player at the World Championships next year and the Olympics in 2020.
This performance supported the argument, even if there was frustration in defeat. ‘We’ve had such a long season — indoors, Commonwealth Games, European Championships and now Diamond League final,’ said asher-smith, who later anchored Britain to a 4x100m relay win. ‘Obviously you want to win every race but sometimes you have to deal with what’s in front of you.
‘I came here already very happy with my season. If you’d told me at the outset that I’d be coming second in a Diamond League final, I’d have been pleased. But I wanted to win.’
asher-smith will wrap up her campaign at the Continental Cup next weekend. she said: ‘I can never say my season is 10 out of 10 because my coach always wants me to improve but I’d say it’s a nine or an eight. It has to be Olympic gold for a 10.’
The performance of the night belonged to american sensation Noah Lyles, who won the 200m in 19.67sec.