DOBBIN TAKES SECOND BEHIND ASHER-SMITH

DINA ASHER-SMITH stepped up her Olympic preparations last night with a comfortable 200m win in her first competitive outdoor race since 2019. The world champion dominated the low-key meet in Savona, Italy, and crossed in 22.56sec, well ahead of British teammate, Scotland’s Beth Dobbin, who was second in 23.06sec. Barring four club runs at her home track in Bromley in 2020 and two indoor meets earlier this year, 25-year-old Asher-Smith had not raced since the 2019 World Championships in Doha. She will face a stiffer challenge and have a chance to prove her pre-Olympics form in her next outing. She takes on Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson Herah and Sha’Carri Richardson in an elite 100m field at the Gateshead Diamond League meet on May 23.