For all that Britain possesses its fair share of truly world-class athletes, it is a rarity for two of them to line up in the same event. It is why the women’s sprints should be savoured.
Over the past couple of years, bragging rights between Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith have repeatedly swung both ways. Last summer, Hunt claimed her first British 100m title in Asher-Smith’s absence, before ceding the 200m crown to her more experienced rival the following day when the pair clocked identical times. A few weeks on, Hunt won a memorable 200m silver ahead of Asher-Smith, who then hit back with the British 60m title earlier this year. To me, to you. And repeat.
On a cloudy Saturday evening in Birmingham it was Hunt who reasserted her dominance in the latest edition of their contest, riding a helpful tailwind to overhaul the fast-starting Asher-Smith and successfully defend her British 100m crown in 11.01 seconds. A season’s best 11.13 for silver was Asher-Smith’s consolation.
“One of the things I said to myself today was that if I can’t win my own national trials then how am I expecting to win gold at Europeans?” said Hunt, 24, who broke the 11-second barrier for the first time this month and will bid for the European title back in Birmingham this summer.
Hunt said: “I really wanted to come here and put a statement out to all the other European girls and the British girls that I’m here, and I’m a force to be reckoned with.”
Asked about her rivalry with Asher-Smith, who still holds British records over all three sprint distances, Hunt said: “It’s so great. It shows that our national championships are one of the best in the world. Dina is one of the fastest athletes on the circuit so I know when I come here I have to bring my A game. It’s been a really good one to get the victory.”
Where Hunt has steadily improved year upon year, Romell Glave said his first British 100m title had felt “a long time coming”.
Born and raised in Jamaica, he moved to south London aged 16 and made a name for himself the following year when a 10.21 run earned him the title of the world’s fastest 17-year-old. It has been a rollercoaster journey since, recovering from a career-threatening fractured back to win his first senior international medal with bronze at the 2024 European Championships.
Having exploited illegally strong tailwinds to run 9.88 and 9.90 already this season, he arrived in Birmingham as an unlikely favourite in a field of better-known names. He promptly responded with a personal best 9.98 for gold, dipping under 10 seconds legally for the first time.
In a blanket finish, British record holder Zharnel Hughes took silver in 10.01, with the former British champion Louie Hinchliffe claiming bronze in 10.03.
“I knew the talent was there, the potential was there, but I had to believe it, because through adversity this was my calling,” said Glave, 26. “Thanks to my support staff, my coach, they have been there for me through the ups and downs. They helped me to have that belief.
“This season has been a big change in my mental mindset, taking each day by day, and when it matters, I just shot. I’m running with freedom, because once you run with freedom, you’re more dangerous. Don’t be too respectful of the field. You give them respect, but you don’t give them too much. You have to be a bit nonchalant, which is what I did today. The mission now is to go to Europeans and strive for gold.”
The second day of UK Championships action features a host of finals, including the women’s 400m, with the Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who is using the weekend as a speed workout over the one-lap distance. Hodgkinson advanced fifth fastest from the heats, with the British record holder Amber Anning leading the qualifiers.
The Olympic 400m silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith also qualified fastest for his one-lap final, as did Jake Wightman and Georgia Hunter Bell in the 800m.