by Stuart Weir
Day 2 for British Athletics was challenging, here is story by Stuart Weir.
Team GB struggles on day 2
Day 2 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was eagerly anticipated by supporters of Team GB. The day started well, but then it rather petered out – perhaps predictably so.
The morning session featured the men’s and women’s 1500m events. Defending champion Josh Kerr, former champion Jake Wightman, and world indoor medalist this year, Neil Gourley, all progressed successfully to the semi-finals. Elliot Giles did not. His comment to the BBC after the race poignantly expressed the challenge of being a professional athlete and focusing one’s year on a single event. Giles said: “I’m absolutely devastated. I put so much into this year, as we all do. I tailored my races around it, and I tailored my training to get ready for today. These races are anyone’s game, and it’s tough. I guess I knew three ways you could go. But in truth, I genuinely felt that as long as I’m in the top eight, that should take you through.[The criteria were the top six and no “fastest losers”]. That last 100 was like a simulation. I was like, Come on, legs, go, go, go. And the legs weren’t going. And again, it’s so hard. I can’t believe that we can put so much into it, and it can be over so quickly. I did everything right. Even got to bed at 7.45 last night. I had a good 8-9 hours’ sleep. I did everything. In the race, other competitors share the same ambition, plans, and training. And again, it can be a roll of the dice if the race is slow. Something that can also happen if you run fast. That’s devastating, really devastating. It is part of the game and I still love it”. Raw emotion. There is also the “unfairness” that six athletes with slower times progressed, and that Giles’ PR is 10 seconds quicker than his time today. Running rounds can be brutal. You can be in great shape, but the nature of the race or a tactical mistake can end your season prematurely—and your hopes.
Optimists had discussed potentially winning two medals in the men’s 400, including a gold. Matt Hudson-Smith had to rely on a “fastest loser” place, and Charlie Dobson was hanging on to third place as he finished. Three women in the 400 all progressed – Amber Anning comfortably, with Yemi Mary John and Vikki Ohuruogu waiting nervously to see if they were among the fastest six outside the top three. GB had six athletes in the men’s 100, but only one progressed to the final. Zharnel Hughes was seen as an outsider for a medal but finished in 10.03. The benchmark for making the final was under 10 seconds, and none of the British trio met it (Zharnel, Jeremiah Azu, and Rommell Glave).
Three women in the 100 semis were an encouragement, but with finishing times of Darryl Neita (11.06), Amy Hunt (11.05), and Dina Asher-Smith (11.02), only Asher-Smith progressed to the final, where she was 8th in 11.08. The three Brits played musical chairs on the hot seats, with Darryl being replaced by Amy and Amy by Dina, who progressed to the final. It has been a challenging year for Darryl Neita with injury, then adjusting to living in the USA and to a new coach (Lance Brauman). It was particularly frustrating to run 10.94 in the prelim and only 11.06 in the semi. Amy Hunt has made significant progress this year, but she has yet to run under 11 minutes—the minimum standard for reaching a global final. Dina always keeps her cards well hidden, but leaving her American coach a few months before Tokyo and, apparently, operating without one does not seem ideal preparation for a World Championship.
Azu commented, “I have been very consistent, but against the best in the world, you need to be going nine seconds. Ultimately, I fell short there. What can you do? Finished the race healthy, and there’s more to come in the relay. 2025 has been a great year; I can’t be too disheartened. I’ve just got to go back and get some more work in”.
Hunt said: “I am proud of the grit that I showed to really dig deep in that last 10m and pull something out of nothing. The aim was to be the first to 60, and I definitely didn’t execute that, and I am still learning how to start well against some of the best starters in the world. Hopefully I can rectify that in the 200, but I am happy with how I represented myself on the biggest stage. I was one place away from the final, so I really can’t be too mad”.
Darry Neita “I’m angry. What happened with my race? I don’t know what happened with the false start, I just knew it wasn’t me”. {Neita is referring to Sha’Carri Richardson, clearly moving forward before the gun, triggering others to move too, but the officials showed a green card rather than disqualifying Richardson.
Asher-Smith said: “I’m happy. I would have loved for my times to be a bit shinier over the 100m, but given the kind of year that I’ve had and everything, I’m so happy with just how I came into these championships”.
British Athletics did not get a reaction from Zharnel Hughes or Matt Hudson-Smith,
Tomorrow may be better.
