Diamond Dina off to flyer

DINA ASHER-SMITH got the party started with a sparkling win as the £72million renovated home of British athletics opened its doors.

On a contrasting day for Britain’s top two sprinters, Asher-smith beat a highquality field to win the Diamond League 100m at the impressive new Alexander Stadium.

But Zharnel Hughes, Britain’s other European sprint champion, once again false-started, was disqualified and walked straight into a withering blast from track legend Michael Johnson.

“Zharnel Hughes has false started every race I’ve seen him entered over the last year,” said Johnson, referring to the Brit’s DQS in both last year’s Olympic and British Championship finals.

“At this point he’s taking a lane that should go to someone who’s going to finish the race,” Johnson added. There’s no such criticism of Britain’s golden girls. Laura Muir set the 1500m pace in 4min02.81sec, while Keely Hodgkinson won the 800m at a canter in 1:58.63.

Asher-smith, meanwhile, held off Shericka Jackson to win in 11.11sec.

She also helped Britain’s sprint relay women to victory in a world-leading 42.49sec.

“Being British, I wanted to come to Birmingham in this beautiful new stadium and put on a show,” Asher-smith said. “I could have done a few things differently if I’m being picky, but I’m very happy to win against this field and in this wind.”

The old stadium has been transformed into a 30,000 state-of-the-art track and field venue – heightening Asher-smith’s anticipation of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

“The stadium is really beautiful,” she said. “It doesn’t even feel like the old stadium, almost like we’re in Zurich, one of the fancy ones!”