DEVASTATING

Dina’s best isn’t good enough for podium

IT’S one of the cruel truths of elite-level sport that, sometimes, your best just isn’t enough. Dina Asher-Smith found that out in agonising fashion at the World Championships in Oregon on Sunday night, her British record of 10.83 in the 100metres final leaving her in that infuriating position — fourth.

‘I’m so gutted that it didn’t get me on the podium,’ she said. ‘I was so close.’

Jamaican sprint queen ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce powered to her seventh global 100m title, her time of 10.67 the fastest of the lot — and all at the age of 35.

Asher-Smith (pictured) hit the line two hundredths of a second behind bronze medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah — which equates to half the length of a table knife — and the result was one that cut deep.

‘I’m annoyed but I’m going to get some sleep, recover, have a chat with my coach, probably cry a bit,’ she said before looking ahead to the 200m, where she could have a strong medal chance in Thursday night’s final.

‘When you’re in PB shape, the world really is your oyster because you still don’t know what you’re capable of.’

It’s been a rough year for AsherSmith, who lost her grandmother in recent weeks and she admitted off-track issues had kept her from running her best for much of the summer.

‘You really have to be emotionally in the room,’ she said. ‘For lots of the season I couldn’t do that. I’ve been in shape from the beginning, but my brain has been elsewhere. I’ve had some life things that I’ll probably talk about more after the 200.’

At 26, AsherSmith should have many more medal opportunities and she looks to Fraser Pryce as an example of getting faster as you age. ‘It gives me goals,’ she said. ‘People are like: “When are you going to retire?” and I’m like: “Who knows now?”.’ Asked if Fraser-Pryce had cemented herself as the greatest female sprinter in history, she said: ‘Probably, that was phenomenal.’ Asher-Smith’s 200m best this season is 22.27 but she looks primed to challenge the British record of 21.88 that she ran to win the 2019 world title. But it’s a field loaded with quality, including 100m silver medallist Shericka Jackson, who clocked an astonishing 21.55 to win the Jamaican trials last month. Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce, wants to keep inspiring generations of women after claiming a fifth world 100m title. ‘I feel blessed to have this talent and to continue to do it at 35, having a baby, still going, and hopefully inspiring women that they can make their own journey,’ said Fraser-Pryce, having returned after the birth of her son Zyon in 2017 to become the oldest woman to claim a 100m world title in 2019.

‘I can’t even imagine the amount of times I’ve had setbacks, I’ve bounced back and I’m here again. I’m so grateful for the continuous support.’