Dina Asher-Smith warms up for Tokyo with British Championships success
Asher-Smith is one of Team GB’s big medal hopes in Tokyo.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dina Asher-Smith reclaimed the 100m title at the British Athletics Championships as she edged closer to the Olympics.
The 25-year-old won in 10.97 seconds at the Manchester Regional Arena on Saturday.
World 200m champion Asher-Smith, who last took the title in 2019, had earlier set a new championship record with a dominant run of 10.91 seconds in the semi-final.
The trackside timer initially clocked her final run at 10.71 seconds – a new British record – but was quickly changed to her official time.
Asha Philip and Daryll Neita were second and third respectively but Asher-Smith underlined her dominance over her British rivals ahead of the start of the Olympics next month.
She will run the Diamond League meet in Gateshead next month before heading to Tokyo with the opening heats of the Games on July 30.
CJ Ujah qualified for the Olympics by taking the men’s 100m title in 10.05 seconds in Manchester after European champion Zharnel Hughes was disqualified for a false start.
Andrew Pozzi finished a surprise third in the 110m hurdles after clipping hurdle eight but will still make the plane for Tokyo as he has the qualifying time. Tade Ojora took the British title.
Pozzi said: “I lost my rhythm and didn’t regain it. I was really close to the hurdles early on and un it was a bad run.
“The problem is when you do pick the pace up you are going to get closer to the hurdles and you have to adjust to that. I did a poor job of that.”
Earlier, Laura Muir breezed into Sunday’s 800m final with a comfortable run.
Muir, a four-time European Indoor champion who already has the Olympic qualifying standard, won her heat in two minutes 05.41 seconds.
The 28-year-old also confirmed for the first time she will run both the 800m and 1500m in Tokyo.
She said: “I wanted to see how I raced over 800m. I’m really happy with that and how I was placing against other girls in the world. I’m ranked really highly up.
“I think I can make that Olympic final in the 800m and once there, anything can happen.
“So rather than put all the eggs in one basket, I’d rather spread them out a bit. The timetable works in Tokyo. I know I’m strong. I know I can double. I know I’m good in both events. So I might as well do it.”
Training partner Jemma Reekie also reached the final by winning her heat in two minutes 01.46 seconds.
Elliot Giles, who set a new British 800m record in Poland earlier this year, ran one minute 47.28seconds to advance to Sunday’s men’s final.
Jessica Turner won the women’s 400m hurdles title and booked her Team GB spot.
She added: “I have never been so nervous before a race as I wanted this so much. It was the best feeling as I crossed the line. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
Holly Bradshaw broke her own British record at 4.90m to take the pole vault title. Josh Kerr won the men’s 1500m and Laurence Okoye claimed the discus title with a throw of 61.71m.