Dina Asher-Smith wins European 100m gold in British record
In a fantastic atmosphere, helped by a top German sprinter in the thick of a medal battle, Dina Asher-Smith had the race of her life in the 100m final at the European Championships.
Her reaction time of 0.161 was only bettered by her team-mate Imani-Lara Lansiquot's 0.153 but the Blackheath and Bromley Harrier showed superb pick up and was clear of the field all the way.
The metre-plus advantage never looked like being closed which was not surprising as she flashed through the tape in 10.85 to equal the world lead and smash her British record.
The time puts her into the all-time top 10 on the European list.
And with a wind reading of 0.00m/sec, it's not as if the conditions were at their maximum assistance and there is clearly more to come.
Asher-Smith becomes the first British women's 100m European gold medallist for 56 years after Dorothy Hyman won in 1962 and it was the first part of a GB double as in the next race Zharnel Hughes won the men's title from team-mate Reece Prescod.
Already undoubtedly Britain's greatest ever woman sprinter, with a string of high placings in global sprints at 200m, she has now proved she can win senior golds to add to her 2014 world junior title. She had already won a European 200m title, but this was against stronger opposition and is as quick as anyone has run in the world in 2018.
"I went out there and executed my race," she said. "Sprinters say the word ‘execute’ so often it become a boring but I was just so happy that I went out there and ran the race I knew I was capable of.
"I told myself, 'You're here to win, I am not taking any less'. That's what I am here for and I am so happy to have done it. 10.85!"
Next up for @dinaashersmith... the #Berlin2018 200m!
“I know that I’ve got things to work on in the 200m. I haven’t run as many this year as the 100m because I wanted to work on my 100m and get more confident over that distance this year and 10.85 - I did that!” pic.twitter.com/Nk621Bw1er— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) August 7, 2018
The home crowd had something to roar about too as Gina Luckenkemper held off the challenge of Netherlands' defending champion Dafne Schippers. A delighted Luckenkemper equalled the 10.98 she had run a hour earlier in the semi-finals, while Schippers showed her championship mettle again as she ran a season's best of 10.99 for the bronze.
Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji, who was third in 2016 but in much better form this year, had to settle for fourth in 11.05, with Jamile Samuel just edging Lansiquot for fifth as both were timed at 11.14.
Asher-Smith had shown something special was on the cards after a superb semi-final.
There she ran a relaxed but near British record 10.93 and surprisingly close behind was Luckenkemper in 10.98 before a three-metre gap to third.
The second semi was won by Kambundji in 11.14 from France's Orlann Ombissa-Dzangue's 11.20.
Daryll Neita ran far better than she had in her heat but a time of 11.27 in fourth place meant she missed out on the final.
The final semi was won by Schippers in 11.05 from her Dutch team-mate Samuel's 11.10 PB.
Lansiquot was close to her best with 11.14 in third to easily make the final as a fastest loser.
European 100m all-time list
Christine Arron (FRA) 10.73 1998
Irina Privalova (RUS) 10.77 1994
Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL) 10.77 2004
Marlies Gohr (GER) 10.81 1983
Dafne Schippers (NED) 10.81 2015
Zhanna Block (UKR) 10.82 2001
Marita Koch (GER) 10.83 1983
Ekaterini Thanou (GRE) 10.83 1999
Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 10.85 2018
Anelia Nuneva (BUL) 10.85 1988
Britain's Holly Bradshaw only needed one jump to qualify for the pole vault final.
Bravely entering at 4.50m, she cleared first time and by then it was clear that even a first time effort at 4.35m was sufficient to make the final.
She was not the bravest, though, as defending champion Ekaterini Stefanidi entered at 4.55m and was the only athlete to attempt that height.
Bradshaw's team-mate Lucy Bryan equalled her season's best of 4.35m but her second-time clearance meant she just missed out on the final, while Molly Caudery cleared 4.20m to also miss out.
"I felt really confident going into it," said Bradshaw. "I thought I'd open at 4.50m and see if it was good enough and it was and my jump was really sweet. I just felt really good - almost like I couldn't put a step wrong and I am really excited for the final now."
A men's events report can be found here.
» Results can be found here, while a day-by-day guide to the upcoming action in Berlin is here. See the August 9 and 16 editions of AW magazine for coverage
