Dina Asher-Smith runs impressive PB in world championship 200m heat

“I almost went down – again”, Farah said.

“I don’t blame anyone, but even in training sometimes my training partners catch my leg which is why I sometimes have to be on the front or the back, or stay on the outside”.

“It’s been an unbelievable team spirit, incredible”.

YOUNG SPRINT sensation Dina Asher-Smith’s dreams of landing a medal at the World Championships increased when she ran a personal best in Beijing.

The teenager’s impressive display in the 200m heats seems to justify that decision as she crossed the line in 22.22 secs, setting a personal best despite clearly easing up towards the end.

Marked down as a star of the future, Asher-Smith said: “My plan was just win the heat and to get to the semi-final so I am over the moon now”.

“I did feel relaxed which is why I was quite surprised with the time”.

“As long as I genuinely feel like I have done everything that I can, I’ll be happy”.

Three British women advanced to the 200m semi-finals with Bianca Williams and Margaret Adeoye qualifying alongside Asher-Smith.

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.

‘Times aren’t the aim, ‘ she said. “I just have to see how the next round goes”.

“I’m just looking to perform to the best of my ability”, she adds.

“When you step on the line you do have to remember that you are there for a reason”, she says, going on to reflect on the Birmingham Diamond League event earlier this summer which saw her finish one hundredth of a second behind a US 1-2 comprising Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix.

“It was great”, the Anguilla-born sprinter said.

Rather than being in awe of her rivals – which in Beijing are set to include the likes of the new world 100m silver medallist Dafne Schippers of Netherlands and USA’s world no. 2 Candyce McGrone – Asher-Smith says she has a “huge amount of respect” for them and is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

‘At the end I wasn’t sure if it was me or her. I didn’t see her come into my lane so I thought: “Oh no what have I done?”‘

Danny Talbot will not join Hughes in the final despite clocking a 20.27 PB in the semi won by Usain Bolt, while there was frustration for Eilidh Child as the reigning European champion finished sixth in the 400m hurdles final.

In the morning session, Sophie Hitchon progressed to the hammer throw final and Lawrence Clarke made it out of the 110m hurdles heats, while Lynsey Sharp, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Jenny Meadows progressed to the 800m semi-finals.