Dina Asher-Smith smashes British record as she wins European 100m gold in Berlin
The sprinter ran 10.85sec as she beat rival Dafne Schippers and led from gun to tape to power home in a national best
DINA ASHER-SMITH smashed the British 100 metres record as she claimed the European title in Berlin.
The 22-year-old led from gun to tape and powered home in 10.85 seconds to beat her Dutch rival Dafne Schippers and added the gong to the 200m title she won in 2016.
Germany's Gina Luckenkemper was second in 10.98sec, while Holland's Schippers was third in 10.99sec.
The Orpington flyer also equalled the world lead, but admitted afterwards she was aiming to take the world-leading mark outright.
She also became Britain's first women's European 100m champ since Dorothy Hyman in 1962, lowering her own national record of 10.92sec.
Asher-Smith said: "I'm so happy, to run a 10.8 in a major championships is a really big deal, so I'm really happy.
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"I wanted to come here and run a low 10.8 after running a few 10.9s and I knew I had it in my legs but obviously when you come to a champs anything can happen.
"I did everything right which in a final is really good. In the heats I sat in the blocks like I was a slug.
"I was like 'Dina what are you doing? You're here to run.' But I'm really happy with the time.
"I really wanted the world lead, and it was an equal, so I'll have to try again later in the season."
Asher-Smith will now bid for treble gold this week in the 200m — as defending champion — and in the 4x100m relay.
Rising British star Imani Lara Lansiquot — named after cricket legend Brian Lara — was sixth in 11.14sec in her first senior final.
