Asher-smith puts credentials on line against world’s elite

European star faces top 100m field in Birmingham Hughes must beat US duo to repeat gold heroics

Dina Asher-smith is anticipating a bruising battle as she seeks to show the value of her European treble against a field worthy of a global final at the Birmingham Diamond League today.

Asher-smith made history as the first British athlete to win three European titles (100metres, 200m and 4x100m) at the same championships last week and now sits top of the world rankings for both sprint distances this year.

Her success has led to a whirlwind week of almost 50 interviews and recognition across the celebrity world, and she now faces an immediate chance to prove herself against the very best in the world when she faces her toughest field of the season.

Shaunae Miller-uibo, of the Bahamas, is unbeaten over any distance this season, while the field also contains Marie-josee Ta Lou, of Ivory Coast, Jamaican Shericka Jackson and three of the leading Americans.

“It is like an Olympic final so I am really excited,” said Asher-smith.

“The fact I am at home will make it 10 times as intense – I am under no illusions. I am not going to want to put on a bad performance in front of a home crowd.

“It is about performing to the best of my ability with what I have in the tank right now. If that comes with a good time or performance anywhere near what I did last week then I will be over the moon.”

Asher-smith’s huge national records set in Berlin would have been good enough to win the 100m and 200m world titles last year, but she insists talk of global honours remains premature, especially given this is effectively an “off-season” for the leading Americans and Jamaicans.

“I am definitely well aware that the Europeans didn’t include the best sprinters or the best sprinting nations in the world,” she said.

“That is why I am telling everybody to relax and chill out. The times are good, but you don’t know how it is going to translate at worldlevel competitions.”

European champion Zharnel Hughes faces an even tougher task in the men’s 100m in Birmingham, with two rounds of competition featuring 13 men who have broken 10 seconds.

Americans Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman head the field, which also contains Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and Britain’s European silver medallist Reece Prescod.

Lyles and Coleman have both spoken of their desire to prove themselves as world No 1 this weekend, and Hughes says he knows the European title will put a target on his back.

“Coming here on our home turf, I definitely think they will be trying to dethrone me,” said Hughes.

“That was the European Championships – this is now against the world. I’m grateful for the title, but I have to focus on what’s ahead of me now.

“Being European champion puts a target on my back and they want to take me down. Great competitors like this equal great times.”