Red hot Asher-Smith lands 200m final spot

Briton Dina Asher-Smith booked her place in Friday’s final of the 200m with a stunning win in her semi-final.

The defending champion had nothing left in the home straight where she is usually so strong as she crossed the line in 50.63secs. “I’m excited to get out on the track and run, not only because as I’ve said the season has been good but also because it’s the Bird’s Nest and it’s so iconic”.

A season’s best from Bianca Williams and a solid run from Margaret Adeoye means it will be a three-pronged British attack in the 200m semi-finals, which the latter reached in unusual circumstances as she followed home Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Zharnel Hughes, the 20-year-old from Anguilla in his first major championships for Britain, was fifth in the men’s 200m final, clocking a PB of 20.02s to demonstrate his potential as a future star. I’m happy, but I can’t let myself get caught up in the moment.

‘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?”‘ “I’m quite happy to have done that, but for that to come with a PB I’m absolutely over the moon”.

The 200 metres is wide open this year in the absence of reigning champion Fraser-Pryce, who decided against doubling up, and Olympic champion Allyson Felix, who preferred the challenge of the 400m when the schedule prevented her her from running both.

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.

“I didn’t actually see her coming in”, Adeoye said.

“I was just trying to qualify so ran a good bend, saw where I was and tried to relax off and ease my way to the line”.

“I’ve still got to qualify for the final, to even be a medal contender so even when you get there, each of the eight on the line have equal chance so thanks for the compliment but I still have a lot of work to do”.

Hitchon’s fourth place was the best ever by a British woman in a heavy throws event at the world championships.

Shelayna Oskan-Clarke produced the race of her life to win her 800m semi-final in 1:58.86 – her first time under two minutes.

“I was disappointed with the hurdling and it was all a little bit messy”.