FROM BOX carrier to Box Office, Dina Asher-Smith last night arrived on the world stage.
Seven years ago at the London 2012 Olympics, she was a promising junior runner and involved in carrying kit out for the stars of Super Saturday.
Dina Asher-Smith starred int he showpiece event in DohaCredit: PA:Press Association
The rising star was pipped by a blistering run from Shelly-Ann Fraser-PryceCredit: Reuters
Tonight in Doha, Asher-Smith carried the hopes of the nation on her shoulders in a superfast women’s 100m final and magnificently delivered when it mattered the most, creating British sporting history and underlining her potential as a future athletics superstar.
By finishing second in a national record time of 10.83sec – behind the seemingly ageless Jamaican supermum Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.71sec) – Asher-Smith is the first British woman to stand on the podium of a 100m.
Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou was third with 10.90sec.
It has been an incredible journey, the legacy of those magnificent London Games.
And fittingly, it is also the 100TH MEDAL for Britain in the 36-year history of the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Asher-Smith said: “I woke up with this intention.
“I have worked so hard for this, for these champs, for this point in my career,
“Hopefully I will go on to do bigger things.
“When I was stood on the line, I thought: ‘Right, this is your time to go.’
“I am really, really happy I came away with a PB, a national record, that is more than you can ask for in a world.
“I am a championship performer, I would have loved to have won. But Shelly-Ann did a fantastic performance, that is why she has so many titles and is a legend.
Dina Asher-Smith did the national proud with her efforts in DohaCredit: Reuters
“It’s a long season, and it’s easy to get carried away with it. Maybe the Diamond League final or running well through season, it’s easy to get caught up with hype, and forget what you are looking forward to.
“Me and my coach wanted to stay focused and tailor it to this event. Keep your eye on the prize.
“I have never done a 100m at a world champ, it was a new experience at this level, I was super happy. It’s a team effort to get me here in this good shape.
“We all have to dare to dream (about the 200m). Everyone wants to be world champion. I will go to bed and make sure I turn up in the right frame of mind for my heats.”
With the protagonists of that famous night from 2012 either retired, looking after children or winding down their careers, British Athletics badly needs a next generation of heroes.
Not solely for funding reasons, but to retain the sport’s enduring popularity.
And this 23-year-old from Kent, the kid with the beaming smile and fast legs, will surely now be the poster-girl on the road to Tokyo 2020.
Victor Fraser-Pryce added: “I cannot tell you what she is capable of. That is a question for her.
“But being able to compete with Marie and Dina, it is a remarkable feeling to line up against women like that who can fight to the line.
“Dina had a PB and that is awesome. She will inspire a lot of athletes in Britain that you don’t have to come from the US or Jamaica.”
It’s just a shame that so few people saw it live. Only a few thousands in the 40,000-seater stadium were left by the time the women’s 100m final took place at 11.20pm local time.
The 100m final saw some great runs but few fans were around to see itCredit: Reuters
The stands have been empty for much for the World Championships in DohaCredit: PA:Press Association
Heartbroken Holly Bradshaw missed out on a bronze medal by 5cm and one frustrating vault.
The Blackburn Harrier required a height of 4.85m to keep pace with the Olympic world champion Katerina Stefanidi from Greece in third place.
Yet she was unable to make the clearance with her second attempt and after fluffing 4.90m, she had to settle for fourth place instead. Gold went to the American Sandi Morris (4.95m).
Given Bradshaw was without a sponsor over the winter – she was dumped unexpectedly by Nike – it’s still represents a significant leap in her career.
And it bodes well for her being competitive during the Olympic final in less than a year.
Britain had to settle for fourth place in the first 4x400m mixed relay with anchor-leg runner Martyn Rooney unable to close down champions America, Jamaica and Bahrain.
This mixed event, the first of its kind at world level, is set to appear on the Tokyo 2020 roster.
US runner Allyson Felix won a record 12th world title, which elevates her above Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.
In the men’s 800m semi-finals, none of the three Brits managed to progress but angry Kyle Langford accused rivals of cutting him up.
Langford moaned: “One million per cent it affected me. The Kenyan three times cut me up. Then the Moroccan as well. They have ruined the race.
“It was a slow race, maybe I should have taken it on. My emotions are high right now.”
@Tweet Rob_Maul
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
