Dina Asher-Smith laid down the gauntlet in the 200m heats, with Britain’s fastest ever woman setting a new personal best at the World Championships.
Having broken Montell Douglas’ seven-year 100m record earlier in the year, the 19-year-old took it down to 10.99secs at last month’s Anniversary Games in London. Asher-Smith is not doubling up in Beijing, though, and is focusing on half-lap success a year out from the Olympics.
The teenager’s impressive display in the 200m heats seems to justify that decision as she crossed the line in 22.22secs, setting a personal best despite clearly easing up towards the end.
“I’m really, really happy,” Asher-Smith told the BBC. “I didn’t expect to run a PB in the heat. I did feel relaxed which is why I was quite surprised with the time. The three who won gold have inspired us. I just have to see how the next round goes.”
It was the fastest time set en route to the 200m semi-finals, where Asher-Smith will be joined by team-mates Bianca Williams and Margaret Adeoye. The former finished second in her heat with a season’s best 22.85secs, although it is the latter’s race which was most noteworthy after following home Veronica Campbell-Brown.
The Jamaican two-time Olympic champion missed the last World Championships following a failed drugs test and inexplicably drifted into the Briton’s lane on the bend.
“She helped me get to the finish line so I’m not complaining,” Adeoye said. “That’s not happened to me before. I felt a bit rusty but I wanted to make sure I got through.”
