SPRINTER WINS 200M CROWN IN FINE STYLE

Delighted Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran a championship record of 20.05 seconds to win the 200m in Manchester and book his spot at the World Championships as the wind died down briefly to make it a legal time.

“I’ve been away for a long time and haven’t run this fast since 2018. It’s been a turbulent couple of years hampered by injuries,” he said.

“I’ve slowly become forgotten. I’ve made a couple of changes, moved back to the UK and I’m in the shape of my life. I feel like I’ve got a second wind in the sport.”

Mitchell-Blake was reluctant to speak about CJ Ujah but echoed Zharnel Hughes and said he forgives him after the sprinter’s positive doping test cost them their 4x100m relay silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics last year.

He said: “That’s a very, very good friend of mine. I’ve just got on the plane to Oregon, so I’d like to focus on that and enjoy my win. I’ve said multiple times I forgive him.

“I don’t think you’ll ever get over it. It’s something that will be there for life, but you have to find your best self, live in the moment and understand how you control your own destiny moving forward.

“We’ve got a senior group and we’ve got guys like Joe Ferguson coming in, Jeremiah Azu, we have to bring them in.

“It’s about embracing them and bringing them into the fold.”

Ferguson’s second place in 20.23 seconds saw him qualify for the British World Championships team while Adam Gemili came fifth after limping over the line with cramp.

Max Burgin won the men’s 800m, Holly Bradshaw prevailed in the pole vault, Morgan Lake was victorious in the high jump, Cindy Sember took the 100m hurdles title, and Jessie Knight won the 400m to seal her place in the Worlds squad.