Dina Asher-Smith is the European 100m champion
Dina Asher-Smith is the European 100m champion

Dina Asher-Smith wins gold in women's 200m at European Championships


Dina Asher-Smith refused to jinx her historic treble bid after storming to 200m glory at the European Championships.

The 22-year-old won in Berlin on Saturday night in a world lead of 22.89 seconds to defend her 2016 title and add to her 100m win from Tuesday.

She is on track to create history if she helps Great Britain win the 4x100m relay on Sunday.

No Brit has ever taken all three titles at a major championships before but Asher-Smith remained wary of completing a hat-trick at the Olympic Stadium.

She said: "Purely because in the relay there are three other people, you never know. The reason we love relays is the same reason we love the hurdles. You don't know what's going to happen.

"We're going to try our best, the Dutch are the reigning champions, the Swiss and the home girls - they won't be looking to let anyone win the gold easily.

"It's all about execution but I do hope to be part of the team.

"If I am honest I am still in a haze. I was just thinking, 'get out there, you are a double world champion inside you, run, maintain form', all those coaching tips.

"I knew I had to go like a bat out of hell because she (Dafne Schippers) is coming for me and there was no way she was going to let me win this.

"I had the fear of God inside me. It was over in a blur and I was just full of happiness and relief because it is a bit daunting going in as the reigning champion with a gold bib."

Asher-Smith beat reigning world champion Schippers into second, with Dutch team-mate Jamile Samuel third, and Schippers believes her British rival is now world class - but believes next year's World Championships represents a different challenge.

She said: "Of course. She is really fast. She is running really good times. Next year is a different year and for a lot of people this is an off year, so next year we'll see how it goes."

Bianca Williams and Beth Dobbin came sixth and seventh respectively.

The British men's 4x400m relay squad of Rabah Yousif, Dwayne Cowan, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Martyn Rooney claimed silver behind Belgium.

The women - Zoey Clark, Anyika Onuora, Amy Allcock and Eilidh Doyle - took bronze.

Shara Proctor also took bronze in the long jump after a leap of 6.70m with Jazmin Sawyers fourth.

But there was disappointment for Lorraine Ugen - who came in as world leader - as she dropped out of the top eight after three jumps having only managed to register one leap of 6.45m.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen took the 5000m title just 24 hours after winning the 1500m.

He had become the youngster European champion in history on Friday before he finished ahead of his brother Henrik in 13 minutes 17.06 seconds.

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