DINA’S WORLDS GIVEN A SPIN...
ATHLETICS
BY
DINA ASHER-SMITH was last night dethroned as Britain’s sprint queen – just 20 days ahead of the World Championships.
The Kent rocket was beaten into second place by pal Daryll Neita, who scorched to a windassisted 10.80 seconds to win her first 100 metres national title at the UK Athletics Championships.
“I’m fuming because I don’t like losing,” said Asher-smith, who will defend her 200m title at the worlds, which begin on July 15 in Oregon, USA.
“But the most important thing is to be in one piece – I’m happy to be injury-free heading on the plane to Eugene. It doesn’t impact on my expectations.”
Asher-smith, 26, was back at the scene of the hamstring injury which wrecked her Olympics 12 months ago. She clocked 10.87secs in a +3.8m/s tailwind and did nothing wrong, but on the day could not live with relay team-mate Neita.
The Londoner capped a shock evening in the sprints with Jeremiah Azu running 9.90secs to win the men’s 100m and beat the more fancied Reece Prescod and Zharnel Hughes into the minor medals.
If few had seen that coming from the European Under-23 champion, then Neita had dropped a series of heavy hints.
In Tokyo, where injury de-powered Asher-smith, she was the only Briton to reach the final. And here in Manchester she looked a million dollars through the rounds. “I really believe there is no limit to me,” said the 25-year-old. “To finally get the gold just means so much.”
Neita has long lived in Ashersmith’s shadow but reckons she is now ready for the global stage.
“We’re both going out there wanting to be No.1 in the world,” she added. “It’s great that Dina and I can both challenge each other in these settings.
“I’ve watched Dina do amazing things on the world stage and it’s been very inspiring. But I’ve always known I can do it too. This gives me a lot of confidence and I really believe there is no limit.
“Our paths have been very different but I’ve always known I’ve got a lot of potential and capability, it never deterred me.”
Laura Muir completed a hat-trick of British titles at 1500m – and
was so dominant her coach had her run a 400m time trial mid-race.
The Olympic silver medallist romped home with almost five seconds to spare, in 4:12.91, then said: “With three championships this summer I cannot afford to ease up. I am trying to get something out of every run.”
Meanwhile, British Athletics’ team leader Paula Dunn woke up to learn her house had been broken into and her two cars stolen.
“We are OK, just annoyed and frustrated,” she said. “It’s a little scary knowing someone has been in your house uninvited!”
I’m fuming because I don’t like losing... but I’m in
one piece