Home comforts help Asher-Smith to 200m gold

Former world champion breaks championship record and lands UK title after a photo finish, then reveals she has left US set-up under coach Edrick Floreal to make London return

Dina Asher-Smith revealed she has left her US-based coaching set-up under coach Edrick Floreal and will be making her preparations for next month’s world championships from her home town in London.

The 2019 world 200m champion moved to Texas in October of last year, having parted ways with her long-time coach John Blackie, and although she wouldn’t confirm who she is now working with, the 29-year-old added: “”I’m really happy because I’m based in London. I’m just having fun and I’m really excited. 

“I’ve been working on some stuff to work on my race phasing and race prep and as you can see it’s paid dividends. I’m in such a confident and capable place. I’m such a London girl. I tried my hardest but I’m back.”

Asher-Smith was speaking after winning the third 200m national title of her career in Birmingham on Sunday (August 3) but she was made to work every single step of the way to make sure of UK Championships gold. 

The reigning European 100m champion broke her own championship record of 22.18 from last year with a run of 22.14 (1.9) but she was very nearly chased down by the 100m gold medallist Amy Hunt, who was given exactly the same time as the verdict went down to a photo finish. Daryll Neita, disqualified from the 100m final the previous day, was third in 22.30.

Asher-Smith got off to a rapid start and had established a lead off the bend, with Neita looking to mount a stern challenge, but it was Hunt who was building up the biggest head of steam as she began to close the gap. Overtaking Neita, the 23-year-old crucially appeared to lose her balance as the line loomed and Asher-Smith hung on. 

Amber Anning, the world indoor 400m champion earlier this year, can now fully focus on going for outdoor gold in Tokyo after winning another UK title thanks to her run of 50.53. 

Having gone out hard, the 24-year-old had established a healthy lead on the final bend, but former national champion Victoria Ohuruogu did her best to close and made the margin of victory less comfortable than it might have been with her time of 50.79. Yemi Mary John also finished strongly for her third place in 50.84.

Georgia Hunter Bell, meanwhile, admits she “has a lot of thinking to do” as she considers whether or not to go for the 800m/1500m double or stick to…