Double silver service joy
DINA ASHER-SMITH helped herself to another slice of history last night when powering to sprint relay silver in Doha.
Speed demon Dina (left) added another first by winning her third medal at a single world championships.
She made light work of it in the company of Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson and Daryll Neita.
“I think we all handled the pressure between us which is testimony to how much experience we have got as a squad,” said Asher-Smith after Britain finished second behind Jamaica in 41.85 seconds.
The men emulated that moments later as they came second to the United States. Britain’s men had waited 34 years for a sprint relay gold and were with 0.26secs off repeating their London triumph over arch-rivals America.
Meanwhile, Laura Muir (right) fell short in her bid to become Britain’s third world champion in six days – beaten by an athlete competing under a ‘black cloud’.
Despite clocking one of her fastest ever times, Muir could finish only fifth, with Sifan Hassan making history as the first woman ever to complete the 500m-10,000m double.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Muir. “I was fifth in 3:55!”
Dutch star Hassan, who won in a championship record 3:51.95, is coached by Alberto Salazar, banned for four years this week for multiple doping violations.
Muir, who lost six weeks of training to a calf tear in July, said: “Given the news of the past couple of days, I think there is a cloud. There’s no avoiding that.
“All you can do is focus on your own performances,” added Muir. “I SAM WARBURTON is hoping Wales stick the boot into the “hurting” Fijians and take another step towards topping Pool D.
The former captain claims he does not care who the Red Dragons get in the last eight and insists the only important thing is to carry on winning.
Warren Gatland’s men could all but send Fiji packing from Japan if they beat the Pacific Islanders in Oita on Wednesday.
Warburton said: “The Welsh team has started the competition really strongly with a couple of good wins.
“To win a World Cup you have to keep on that winning conveyor belt. It breeds confidence and belief.
“The World Cup is won by the team which goes out there in each game hungry and desperate to win.
“I do see that in this Welsh side. The guys look really pumped up for it.
“They will need to be on their A games against Fiji because they are a team which is hurting still.
“They may have recovered to crush Georgia but losing to Uruguay was a massive blow to their pride.
“Getting through as pool winners would be crucial. It doesn’t matter who they play really as you have to beat all the best to win the trophy at some stage.” think I lost a gear or two in the last 100m, but to run
3:55 – I am speechless, so proud of myself. If
3:55 is me unfit, I’d love to see what I can do if I’m 100%.” Meanwhile, champion Hassan went all-out to defend herself afterwards.
“It has been a hard week for me,” she said. “I was so angry. I ran all out. I have been clean all my life. “This makes me so mad. I have been clear all my life.”