Asher-Smith races to 100m win against strong field in Gateshead
different.
Within the same timeframe, 21-year-old Richardson had burst onto the senior scene, with three sub-80 dashes and a brash persona leading many to already dub her the most exciting sprint talent since the emergence of Usain Bolt.
A whiff of controversy due to her coaching set-up under convicted doper Dennis
Mitchell only served to emphasise Richardson’s status as a headline act waiting to happen in the build-up to the Tokyo Games.
But it was Asher-Smith, who said she had spent the majority of her time away from the track working on her core strength, who adapted best to the dismal conditions, winning her heat in 11.45 seconds into a 4.4m head-wind.
Richardson and FraserPryce eased through the secondheat,butprovednomatch for the Londoner in the final, with Asher-Smith bursting out of the blocks and claiming a hugely significant victory on the road to the Games.
The vanquished Richardson lived up to her bold persona afterwards, insisting: “I’m happy with the execution of the performance, knowing what I have to work on, and just continuing to grow and show the world I’m here to stay.
“I’m excited to show the world that my times aren’t a fluke.
"I can run, I am pretty, and I am a force to be reckoned with. I want all the women and the world to watch out.”
Laura Muir destroyed her rivals in the women’s 1500m, charging down the home straight to take victory in 4:03.73, exactly four seconds in front of second-placed Moroccan Rababe Arafi, with Muir’s fellow Briton Katie Snowden in third.
Cindy Sember took gold in the women’s 100m hurdles in a time of 13.28secs, while Emily Borthwick grabbed silver in the high jump with a personal best of 1.91m.