Dina Asher-Smith became the first British woman to beat the 11-second barrier in the 100m as she broke her national record for the second time this summer. To the delight of the 50,000 capacity crowd, the 19-year-old ran 10.99sec to win her heat in the Anniversary Games despite appearing to gaze at the clock just before she crossed the line.
“I thought I was in good shape but I didn’t realise I was in that good shape,” she admitted. “I’m in the 10-seconds club now – I’m absolutely over the moon. When I crossed that line I was just beaming; I am so happy.”
Asher-Smith was not quite able to recapture that form in the final, where she finished fourth in 11.06, behind Dafne Schippers, who broke the Dutch record in a time of 10.92 with Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor second in 10.98, and Murielle Ahouré third in 11.01 – but she was not too disappointed.
“I’ve still got stuff work to work on so hopefully I can go a bit faster in the 100m and 200m,” said Asher-Smith. “I was in an amazing field with an Olympic medallist, Olympic finalists, world medallists and world finalists so I was just grateful to be there. I looked around the call room and just thought ‘wow’. These are the people I watched on TV so to be in a race with them was out of this world.”
Shortly after Asher-Smith broke her national record the crowd were cheering again when Shara Proctor leapt 7.98m to beat her own British women’s long jump by 3cm.
Before that she had made three no-jumps so to fly so far left her both delighted and confused. “I didn’t feel anything,” she admitted. “I just blanked out. I didn’t remember anything once I started. I just remember getting out of the pit and that was it. Then, when I saw 6.98, I was so excited.
“I didn’t see this coming. I had surgery last year, I was on crutches, so I didn’t expect to be this strong. I’m getting ready for Beijing.”
Her jump was the third longest in the world this year, which makes the unassuming Proctor a genuine medal contender at the world championships in Beijing next month. Not that she wants to get carried away. “It is a huge confidence boost, but I don’t want to get caught up in all the hype,” she said. “I don’t want to get caught up in the medals and all that stuff.”
However Proctor, who transferred her allegiance from Anguilla in November 2010 because the International Olympic Committee does not recognise her country of birth, believes she could soar over 7m this season. “I just have to get everything together on that day,” she said. “I pulled out a 6.98 so definitely seven metres is right there. A few little technical tweaks and it’ll be right there.
“This stadium is very special. I remember being here for the Olympics and I didn’t get the result that I wanted, but today I came back and I redeemed myself. The crowd is amazing, oh my god, once I started clapping I heard an echo and told myself I have to do something good today.”
Meanwhile, in the women’s 800m, last year’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Lynsey Sharp, finished strongly to come third in a season’s best 1:59.57. But once again Eunice Sum proved herself strongest over the distance as she won comfortably in 1:58.44. “I’m just progressing with every race I do and I’m trusting I’ll peak at the world championships,” said Sharpe.
Greg Rutherford, the Olympic long jump champion in 2012, had to settle for third place on his return to the stadium that transformed him into a household name.
Rutherford was not at his best. His legs looked heavy. His timing off. His first three attempts were no-jumps and, while the crowd cheered when he finally made a successful leap, his best effort was a modest 8.18m – well behind Marquis Dendy’s winning effort of 8.38m.
