Dina Asher-Smith
Dina Asher-Smith

Dina Asher-Smith unfazed by rising expectations


Triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith insists she is comfortable with her rising profile after a gritty return to action.

The 22-year-old, who won 100m, 200m and 4x100m European gold in Berlin last week, finished behind Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the 200m at Birmingham's Diamond League meet on Saturday.

The Bahamas' Miller-Uibo is unbeaten this year and won in 22.15 seconds, ahead of Asher-Smith, who clocked 22.31 seconds.

"It's (her favourite tag) not something I think about. I had it in the junior ranks and I'm used to having on a domestic scale," said Asher-Smith, who will race in the Zurich Diamond League at the end of the month.

"Whether or not you feel comfortable it's the reality or whether you want it, it's there.

"That's what makes you a competitor, that's what makes you great, whether you can take it and handle it. I was really happy with how I performed despite being quite tired."

Reece Prescod also finished second in the 100m after losing to Christian Coleman on the line.

The 22-year-old claimed the performance of the day after setting a personal best of 9.94 seconds.

The USA's Coleman officially clocked 9.938 seconds with Prescod running 9.939 seconds.

Prescod, who won European silver behind Great Britain team-mate Zharnel Hughes in Berlin last week, said: "The Americans think they are very dominant but hopefully I have done our country proud and tried to show the British boys can sprint.

"Obviously the Americans are world class competition - they are the guys I have to beat. I feel like I am definitely close but I still have a lot of work to do to get stronger and faster."

Hughes finished fifth with fellow Briton CJ Ujah eighth.

Laura Muir missed out on breaking Kelly Holmes' 1000m British record when she clocked two minutes 33.92 seconds.

The European 1500m champion won the race but admitted to being a little frustrated at failing to beat Holmes' 21-year-old mark.

"I'm a little disappointed not to get the record, I felt in good shape to do it but it was windy out there. I knew after a lap you'd have to work hard to meet the times," she said.

"I'm still happy to come away with a win after Berlin. I'd give my season a strong nine out of 10. Considering the build-up was really tough I'm really happy with where I'm at."

Katarina Johnson-Thompson came seventh in the long jump with Shara Proctor and Lorraine Ugenthird and fourth respectively.

Johnson-Thompson - who won heptathlon silver in Berlin last week - came ranked eighth in the field of full-time jumpers.

European champion Matthew Hudson-Smith also came second in the 400m behind the USA's Fred Kerley.

The 23-year-old finished in 45.59 seconds at his home race.

"It was a good race. It is all slowly coming together, I keep finding something new every single run," he said.

Greg Rutherford, competing for the penultimate time, finished last in the long jump with an effort of 7.43m.

The 2012 Olympic champion will jump for the final time at the Great City Games in Newcastle next month.

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