NETHANEEL PURE GOLD SAYS COLEMAN

HE caused a sensation by out-sprinting Usain Bolt and Christian Coleman to anchor Great Britain to relay gold at last summer’s World Championships.

Now Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (left) has been backed by US star Coleman to add European individual glory in Berlin this week. Londoner Mitchell-Blake believes Britain has a “golden generation” of sprinters, male and female, that could dominate these European Championships. “Individually we all want to win our event and that competitive nature is spurring this golden generation on to see what is do-able,” he said. “There is no reason why 1-2-3 can’t happen. It’s a great time for British sprinting.” Dina Asher-Smith is out on her own in the women’s sprints, ranked No.1 in both 100m and 200m.

Zharnel Hughes is the top-rated male in the 100m, with four other Brits in the top nine. In the 200m, Mitchell-Blake, 24, says he is hitting form at the right time.

And World Indoor champion Coleman agrees, tipping the Louisiana-based flyer to conquer all in the German capital.

“Nethaneel was a rival for me in college and he’s a great sprinter, especially over

200m,” said Coleman. “He’ll be a huge threat. “I’ve had many races with him and he’s always a great competitor. He came through our US collegiate system and that really prepares you for the future – running that many races and competing at that level.”

Great Britain will be firm favourites in the sprint relay following their national record

37.47sec glory dash at the Worlds in London. Mitchell-Blake will again team up with CJ

“Being in front of a home crowd gave them a boost. It was a special moment for them.”

Ujah and Adam Gemili, with Hughes a more than adequate replacement for injured Danny Talbot. “They got the better of us,” said Coleman (right) who was beaten to the dip on the final leg. “They put it together and figured how to get that stick around...