by Stuart Weir
The 100 meters end day one. Dina Asher-Smith won the women’s 100 meters, dominating the race and giving British fans more to smile about, with her World Leading 100 meters. Asher-Smith is a cheerful, thoughtful athlete and her interviews are fun. Her race was fantastic and this is her second NR of the season! Here’s Stuart Weir’s column on this new European Champion! Stuart Weir did a wonderful peice, found below on one of his favorite athletes.
Dina Asher-Smith takes the 100 meters, photo by Getty Images/European Athletics
Women’s 100m
Dina Asher-Smith is the European100m champion! If that isn’t enough she ran a world lead 10.85 to do it. She said of her win tonight: “I’m so happy with my time. I came here to be European Champion, so I´m happy to have achieved that. I didn’t realise I had won until I turned around. Now, I’m going to have to deal with being the world lead but I can deal with that. Europe is definitely the place to be sprinting, these girls are fast! I want to thank the fans across Europe for all the support at all the Diamond League competitions. One race down, let’s see what happens next in the 200m”.
In a more analytical vein she added: “I went out there and executed my race. 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 that 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!
“I was thinking about my phases and when I got to 30m to go I couldn’t feel anybody. But when you can’t feel anybody that is when someone comes and runs straight past you. I just maintained my focus and kept running. I am so happy.
“I was chilled because I felt like I was in good shape. I have worked out over the years that I have to be chilled to run good, that’s me. That is how I work. Some people have to be nervous and scared but I have to be happy and be in a good mood. I learnt in London through trial and error. A happy and relaxed Dina is a fast Dina”.
Gina Lückenkemper (Germany) was second in 10.98 with DafneSchippers (Netherlands) third in 10.99
Dina is the first Brit ever to run under 11 seconds – 10.99 at the Anniversary Games in 2015. Then this year she has been running sub 11 for fun. She set a new GB record in Oslo 10.92 and three days later ran a 10.93 into the wind in Stockholm, following that with 10.97 at the UK trials. I have been privileged to see all three. In Oslo she told me: “I’m really happy to have run a new British record. I can’t express how over the moon I am. I’m in good shape. I’ve been working hard”. In Stockholm she was disappointed with the 10.93 – an indication of how far she has come!
.@dinaashersmith stormed to the European 100m title in Berlin in a British record and equal world lead of 10.85.
We caught up with an elated champion after the race!#EC2018 pic.twitter.com/ygmHK9lFAi
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) August 7, 2018
In Stockholm, she told me: “I wanted to be a little faster. I felt there were little things that I could improve on Oslo – so I was a little disappointed not to have got the start I wanted. But I was surprised with how calm I remained and believed in myself in the last 50m and came through. So I’m super happy. Two effectively PB performances in a few days – I’m really happy with that”.
And by the way Asher-Smith ran 10,93 in the semi-final tonight – as I said she runs sub 11 for fun.
It is also worth noting how few 100 metre races she has run in her career. Earlier in the year she told me: “I haven’t run enough 100s on the world stage – I think the last one was the world juniors. In the past I haven’t done too many 100s which is a combination of being injured and having to make teams for the 200m, meaning that I didn’t have the luxury of trying new things and different distances. But now that I’m fit and in good shape we thought let’s go out there and try some new things so here I am doing the 100m.
“People probably think of me as a 200m runner because I’ve run it on the international stage a lot more often than 100m but that is partly because I’ve had some unfortunate injuries and the 200m is the one I’d done since I was 15. So when I’ve had limited training the 200m is always the one I feel more comfortable on. So if you don’t have much time go for the one you know you are good at. But when I can do a proper season, free of university and injury, this year….”
A proper season indeed.
