Asher-Smith reign at an end as Neita sets the standard in time for Worlds

DINA ASHER-SMITH’S best speed might be reserved for getting out of Manchester. On the same track where her hamstrings and Olympic dream were torn apart a year ago, she ended her reign as British champion in a thrilling showdown with Daryll Neita yesterday.

There have been questions asked about Asher-Smith’s performances in the early part of the season, and at the same time a creeping wonder over whether Neita’s rise in the past year could cause a domestic overhaul. In the shadow of the Etihad Stadium, their form lines intersected.

Neita was exceptional in taking her first national title in 10.80 seconds, assisted by a strong tailwind, and Asher-Smith was fractionally behind, crossing in 10.87 seconds. For the first time since 2017, Asher-Smith does not wear Britain’s premier sprinting crown.

While all sensible analysis will limit the importance of these trials to qualifying for next month’s World Championships in the USA, the great unknown concerns Asher-Smith’s competitiveness when she gets there.

Based on timings alone, which somewhat underplays her supreme nous in navigating the rounds when it counts, her wind-legal season bests of 10.98sec for the 100m and 22.27sec in the 200m, only place her 23rd and 13th in the world respectively. Given the bonkers times recorded at the USA Trials, where Melissa Jefferson won in 10.69sec on Friday, Britain’s highest-profile athlete faces a tough challenge in getting close to the silver and gold medals she won at the Worlds in 2019.

For Neita, there was pure joy in escaping her relay team-mate’s shadow, and building on last season, when she reached the Olympic final. This one has been sharply disrupted by the welfare questions raised against the coach Rana Reider, which forced her to swap his Florida training group for a new life in Italy earlier this year.

Neita, 25, said: ‘To finally get the gold just means so much. I really believe everybody has their own path. Although our paths (her and

Asher-Smith) have been very different I’ve always known I’ve got a lot of potential and capability, it never deterred me. I’ve watched her do amazing things on the world stage and it’s been very inspiring.

‘But I’ve always known I can do it too. There is no limit to me.’

Asher-Smith was magnanimous in defeat. ‘I’m fuming because I don’t like losing,’ she said. ‘But I said to her face that I’m very happy for her. She’s worked hard and improved so much over the years.’

There was a stunning upset in the men’s 100m as Jeremiah Azu, the European Under-23s champion, beat Reece Prescod and Zharnel Hughes in a scorching 9.90sec. Despite the time being nullified by the wind, he will qualify for the Worlds by virtue of his ranking.

Earlier, there was a successful day for the Scots as Jake Wightman won his first British outdoors title at the ninth time of asking, taking an exciting 1500m final from Neil Gourley and the Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr. Laura Muir cruised to gold in the corresponding women’s field.

Nicole Yeargin is also Eugenebound with the US-based Fifer bolting late to bag silver in the women’s 400m with Zoey Clark sixth, but with a shot at a relay place. ‘I’m glad to be able to push it out and finish strong,’ Yeargin said.

However, Sarah Inglis has been left to sweat for 48 hours with her bronze in the women’s 5000m leaving her fate up in the air. Her debut on the world stage could hang on whether fellow Scot Eilish McColgan opts in for the event or only does the 10,000m. And Inglis, 30, said: ‘I’ll be texting her’.

Elsewhere, David Smith took silver in the men’s high jump while Kirsty Law was second to Jade Lally in the women’s discus. The Highlander, however, is set to just miss out on Oregon after recently slipping to 40th in the world.

‘I’ll just need to see if anyone drops off,’ said Law.