Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita

Dina Asher-Smith is back, and she helped Britain’s 4x100m squad set a new national record 41.55sec to qualify for the final in the fastest time of the session.

Asher-Smith withdrew from the 200m after struggling in the 100m semi-finals, revealing she had been struggling with the hamstring injury she picked up in Gateshead last month.

After Asha Philip passed the baton to Imani Lansiquot, Asher-Smith ran a storming bend to hand over to Daryll Neita, who beat USA and Jamaica to the line.

The Jamaicans in particular will be back stronger in the final when the 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah returns to the team, as will Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, but Britain will feel confident of a medal after setting a new national mark in sweltering Tokyo heat.

“You run faster in this heat you do,” Asher-Smith said. “We’re Brits so we have to regulate our internal body temperature, because we’re not natural warm weather people, but sprinting -wise the hot weather’s great. The people from the hot countries are pretending they’re OK, but then they’re in the shade saying ‘we’re fine’ – ‘I’m saying you are not fine! – Nobody’s fine!’

Recommended

“After the 100m I did say there was no way I wasn’t going to be here for the 4×1 girls. I’ve been training really hard this week, I only had one day off and John had me back on the training track and essentially all I do need is a few more weeks, a few more sessions training.

“We were saying last night if we’d have had a few more days that would have been the 100m final, a few more week or so then 10.8. It’s just one of those things where I am chasing time so give me a few more training sessions and a few more runs and I’ll be closer to where I am used to being and I knew there was no way I wouldn’t be here.”

Gina Luckenkemper ran a storming last leg as Germany overhauled Switzerland to win the second semi in 42.00 while the Swiss notched a national record – one of five on Thursday – of 42.05 and progress as the fourth-fastest qualifiers.

Source: Read Full Article