by Stuart Weir
British Women’s 4x100m relay, London 2017, photo by British Athletics
Eilie Baker, photo by British Athletics
Jazmin Sawyers, photo by British Athletics
Stuart Weir wrote this piece on the British performances in Lausanne. I will update one on the American performances.
Brits in Lausanne
There were some excellent performances by GB athletes in the Athletissma.
Darryl Neita equaled her PR of 10.96 in that epic 100m race for fifth place: She told me afterward: “That was great. I knew I was in an amazing race. I was pretty sure it was going to be historic. Lane 8 was great for me. I just focused on my lane and did my best. I equaled my PR from Tokyo”. While some athletes would have preferred to be in the thick of the action, Daryll said of lane 8: “Honestly, I think the 100 m is the 100 m and that all the lanes are the same. It was a great run”. I also asked her about finally getting the 11-second millstone off her back: “It was amazing. Like you said I’d been knocking on the door for a while. I think it’s every sprinter’s dream to go sub 11. To do it twice this year so far is amazing. I just want to see how much faster I can go”. I always enjoy talking to Daryll. A thoughtful friendly athlete, who answers the questions. Her night’s work wasn’t done with the 100.
Britain’s Olympic medal-winning women’s sprint relay – without Dina Asher-Smith – won the women’s 4 by 100, with Darryl Neita bringing them home, overtaking Switzerland in the final meters. There is a real sense of teamwork in the GB relay squad who have regular practices throughout the season. This togetherness is reflected in their after-race comments:
“Asha Philip: “The crowd made a massive difference today. It was really nice to battle with the Swiss girls here on their home track, they are all really nice girls”.
Ashleigh Nelson: “It felt great to run here with a full stadium”.
Darryl Neita: “Fabulous race, good to run with the girls again”.
Imani Lansiquot: “I enjoyed running again with the girls, we have a great team and I´m happy to finish the season with a win”.
Ellie Baker won a women’s 800 race in 2:00.45 and Thomas Randolph won the men’s in1:47.52 with Charlie Da’Vall Grice third in1:48.22. Baker told me: “I don’t care about the time. I came for the win. I’m very happy to end my season with a win. I will take a two-week break. Next year there is the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games, so I will target these events. There are so many great British 800m runners, so making the team will be very hard”.
One of those great British 800m runners, Jemma Reekie was fifth in the 1500 in 4:04.72, in a rare outing at the longer distance. Jemma, made her standard comment afterwards “I am always wanting to run faster” adding “but it was a windy night and getting into 1500s again is always hard when you are used to 800s but I had fun out there. I didn’t really know what to expect and I just focused on my own race”.
Jazmin Sawyers was third in the long-jump with 6.66 and Abi Irozuru seventh (6.40). Jazmin said of her evening’s work: “It was good. It is my first competition after the Olympics. I am still in good shape. I felt that I could have some more good jumps. It took me some time to figure out my jumps today because I didn´t have my coach here. I was a little bit over-rotating.
“It is my best place in a Diamond League this year. I am so happy to be in the stadium, with all the support of the crowd and their clapping. In America I train with champions, so it forces me to get better. I have to raise to the occasion and be successful. Training with champions just makes me better”.
Ashleigh Nelson was fifth in the 200 in 23.14
Andrew Pozzi was eighth in the 110m hurdles in 13.45
Jodie Williams was seventh in the 400 in 52.12. She told me she had not planned to run any more 400s after the Olympics but the opportunity had come up.
Andrew Butchart ran in the 3000m but did not finish.
