Dina Asher-Smith qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics after defeating Daryll Neita in the British 200m final at the UK Athletics Championships. She ran a championship record 22.18 seconds to beat Neita, who had already qualified for Team GB by winning the gold in the 100m event.
Asher-Smith qualified fastest for the final in 22.69 seconds, with Neita winning her heat in 23.05 seconds. It meant that the 28-year-old would join fellow sprint medal hopeful Neita in Paris, where she hopes to capture her first global medal since winning the world 200m gold five years ago.
“There have been a lot of big changes for me this year… Something new was definitely needed and I have an amazing coach and set-up over there… This is not my first rodeo and I am really happy with this performance. I didn’t expect to run a season’s best either, especially not the day for it with conditions,” Asher-Smith remarked.
Young athletes to represent Team Great Britain
Aside from Asher-Smith, more young athletes ensured their participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Phoebe Gill won the 800m in one minute and 58.66 seconds over Jemma Reekie, competing alongside Olympic and world silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson. Meanwhile, Amber Anning won the women’s 400m in convincing fashion over Laviai Nielsen, who joins twin sister Lina on the Olympic team, while Charlie Dobson, another emerging star, dominated the men’s event.
Moreover, Ben Pattison, who won his maiden global medal in Budapest, was followed across the finish line by Max Burgin and will make his Olympic debut. Georgia Bell will make her maiden Olympic appearance after surprising Laura Muir in the women’s 1500m event, as will Neil Gourley and European 5,000m silver medallist George Mills, who finished first and second in the men’s final.
Source: BBC