Former world champion breaks championship record to land UK title, then reveals she has left US set-up under coach Edrick Floreal to make London return

Dina Asher-Smith revealed she has left her US-based coaching set-up under coach Edrick Floreal and will be making her preparations for next month’s world championships from her home town in London.

The 2019 world 200m champion moved to Texas in October of last year, having parted ways with her long-time coach John Blackie, and although she wouldn’t confirm who she is now working with, the 29-year-old added: “I'm really happy because I'm based in London. I'm just having fun and I'm really excited. 

“I've been working on some stuff to work on my race phasing and race prep and as you can see it's paid dividends. I'm in such a confident and capable place. I'm such a London girl. I tried my hardest but I'm back."

Asher-Smith was speaking after winning the third 200m national title of her career in Birmingham on Sunday (August 3) but she was made to work every single step of the way to make sure of UK Championships gold. 

The reigning European 100m champion broke her own championship record of 22.18 from last year with a run of 22.14 (1.9) but she was very nearly chased down by the 100m gold medallist Amy Hunt, who was given exactly the same time as the verdict went down to a photo finish. Daryll Neita, disqualified from the 100m final the previous day, was third in 22.30.

Asher-Smith got off to a rapid start and had established a lead off the bend, with Neita looking to mount a stern challenge, but it was Hunt who was building up the biggest head of steam as she began to close the gap. Overtaking Neita, the 23-year-old crucially appeared to lose her balance as the line loomed and Asher-Smith hung on. 

Amber Anning, the world indoor 400m champion earlier this year, can now fully focus on going for outdoor gold in Tokyo after winning another UK title thanks to her run of 50.53. 

Having gone out hard, the 24-year-old had established a healthy lead on the final bend, but former national champion Victoria Ohuruogu did her best to close and made the margin of victory less comfortable than it might have been with her time of 50.79. Yemi Mary John also finished strongly for her third place in 50.84.

Georgia Hunter Bell, meanwhile, admits she “has a lot of thinking to do” as she considers whether or not to go for the 800m/1500m double or stick to competing over the metric mile in Tokyo. 

The 1500m Olympic silver medallist was an impressive winner of the 800m national title on Sunday as she ran 1:59.83 to see off Jemma Reekie (2:00.97) and Abigail Ives (2:01.11). 

Hunter Bell was tucked in behind Reekie and Issy Boffey as they hit the bell in 58.99 and it was the Scot who made her move with around 250m to go. The 1500m British record-holder covered the move, though, and was able to ultimately put clear daylight between herself and the chasing pack. 

READ MORE: Max Burgin powers to 800m win

The 800m is the first distance that Hunter Bell ever tried, as a 10-year-old, and she will now consider her world championships options alongside coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows. 

“I am not going to make the decision until after I have run my next Diamond League 1500m and 800m, so I have a bit of time to think,” she said. “The cons are that I am probably in better shape over 800m on the world stage, but the 1500m is first [on the programme], so I could really tire myself out by doing three rounds of hard 1500m, and coming 5/6th even after running a crazy fast time, and then that completely knackers me for the 800m where there might be a better chance. It is head over heart. 

“How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great British athletes like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes, Steve Cram, who did double up, and were successful? It is hard to decide.”

It is now 10 years since Laura Muir competed at her first outdoor World Championships and she made sure of what will be a sixth appearance at the global showcase next month. However, she had to settle for second place in the women’s 1500m at the UK Championships as fellow Scot Sarah Calvert managed to spring a surprise. 

In the closing stages of the race, Muir had spotted on the gap on the inside and darted through it to overtake Revee Walcott-Nolan, who was also coming under real pressure from another Scot, Erin Wallace. 

After a year hampered by serious injury problems, the 2021 Olympic silver medallist looked to be heading for gold but Livingston AC athlete Calvert took the long way round and came down the outside to win in 4:16.27 to Muir’s 4:16.32. Walcott-Nolan was third in 4:16.39 as Wallace finished fourth in 4:16.56.

Calvert, fresh from having won silver at the World University Games at the end of last month, said: “I actually can’t believe it, I am still shocked. I came into this really wanting a medal. I had a good run at the World University Games, but it is such a good field, so I didn’t know if I could get one. I had to have the mindset of forgetting who else was there, and pushing to see what I could do.”

Muir added: “The main aim today was to come top two, so it wasn’t necessarily the race or outcome we expected, but I’ve secured my spot three times in a row in second place, so it is all that you need to do. I got myself a bit boxed which might have cost me the win, but at the same time, Sarah is running incredibly well. I am chuffed for her. Top two was like winning for me, so I am pleased.”

Lina Nielsen got her reward for attacking hard from the outset in the women’s 400m hurdles final. The Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier clocked 55.39 as she held off the challenge of her clubmate and European U23 champion Emily Newnham (55.64). Hayley McLean, also of Shaftesbury Barnet, completed the top three with 56.94.

“This is the most nerve wracking part of any season,” said Nielsen, after the successful defence of her title. “This is always tough. Now this is over, I can now get excited about the worlds.

“When I came out for the heats yesterday, it was very windy, so I didn’t get the stride pattern I was after and I knew today that I had to attack the back straight. I came into the event feeling strong and powerful, and I know I can build on these performances.”

With the World Para Athletics Championships fast approaching, Sophie Hahn looked to strengthen her case for a place in the British team with victory in the women’s 100m Ambulant race.

The outcome was never really in doubt as she hit the line in 12.76 (1.3), with fellow T38 athlete Hetty Barlett second in a PB of 13.32 and Rebecca Scott clocking 13.60.

Hannah Hopper’s PB of 24:24.42 took the Cambridge Harrier to gold in the women’s 5000m walk. Bethan Davies was second in 24:47.93 with Abigail Jennings third in 24:56.66.

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