Birmingham Diamond League LIVE: Latest updates and results as Dina Asher-Smith and Laura Muir win
Relive all the action as the world’s best descended on the Alexander Stadium, which reopened ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games
Canada’s Aaron Brown won the first men’s 100 metre race of the Diamond League season with an underwhelming show in Birmingham on Saturday, after two false starts saw top contender Trayvon Bromell and local favourite Zharnel Hughes disqualified.
Brown clocked in at 10.13 seconds, a minor improvement from his ‘B’ race earlier when he managed 10.23 behind Jeremiah Azu, as the marquee event of the meet came to an anti-climactic finish when Bromell and Hughes jumped the gun.
“I’m glad I won this one and not the first one, if I had to choose,” Brown said. “I felt good. My plan was to get a training day in. I have another race to run in the relay, so three runs in one Diamond League is a record but I love it.
“I’m trying to get the work in and get ready for the world championships.”
Former world champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica finished second at 10.18 seconds while Canada’s Jerome Blake took bronze with an effort of 10.20 seconds. His fellow Canadian Andre De Grasse was fourth after a disappointing run.
Britain’s 200m world champion Dina Asher-Smith finished strongly to seal a tight women’s 100m race at 11.11 seconds, edging out Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson by a hundredth of a second. Briton Daryll Neita took bronze with 11.14.
Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah had pulled out of the meet earlier this week after the Jamaican experienced discomfort in training, denying the Birmingham crowd of a showdown between the last two women’s 100m Diamond League champions.
Tokyo Games 1,500m silver medallist Laura Muir marked her first race of the season following a back problem with a solid show to claim gold in the women’s event, ahead of Australia’s Jessica Hull and Kenya’s Winny Chebet.
Roared on by the crowd at the Alexander Stadium, which has been redeveloped for this year’s Commonwealth Games starting on July 28, the 29-year-old Briton turned on the after-burners towards the end to cross the line at 4:02.81.
“To come here and win in my first race of the season, I’m really happy. The win was more important than the time in my first race especially as it was quite windy out there,” Muir said. “It was solid and running from the front too.”
Men’s 100m B race
- Jeremiah Azu - 10.19 SB
- Aaron Brown - 10.23
- Sam Gordon - 10.44
A solid outing for Azu, who admits he is pleased with the time given the conditions: “I wanted to run a PB today but unfortunately the wind changed to a -0.5 so I am pleased with that today. I am in a better place than when I raced two weeks ago. I knew I could win the race and I hadn’t realised quite how close he (Aaron Brown) was behind me. “I really want that Welsh record in this stadium if I can at the Commonwealths. I am looking forward to putting on the Welsh vest. It was good to experience the stadium ahead of the Games. I run in Bydgoszcz and hope to run even faster. “The British Champs will be hot and I think it will take sub-10 to win it as there are so many men in great shape at the moment. Of course it may depend on the Manchester weather.”
Men’s 800m B race
Ben Pattison reacts to his win in the men’s 800m B race in 1:49.21: “It was a huge domestic field so these are the boys I will be competing with for the Worlds, Commies (Commonwealths) and Europeans so I thought it was important to go for the win. It wasn’t a quick race so it was good to test if I can use a change of pace and test my speed. I was in a good position with 200 to go when Kyle (Langford) came past so I thought let’s go with him. I felt pleased to get that gap behind me. “My coach never goes into too much detail as you never know how an 800 is going to go. I have a good racing brain so no need to force a time in a big head to head. I am in good endurance shape so I am going to Poznan to test myself out at 1k which I have never ran before so that will be interesting.”
Women’s 100m B race
Interesting development here, Gabby Thomas, arguably the favourite for the main race later up against Dina Asher-Smith, is lining up in the B race, perhaps to practice or simulate heats?
A close finish! Looks like Thomas might have got it on the line, 11.27 is the winning time.
Bingham of Canada second in 11.28 and American Brisco third in 11.29, with GB’s Lansiquot fourth.
Men’s 800m B race
They come through in 00:54.99.
Randolph leads with 200m to go...
Pattison storms home with a fine kick, clocking 1:49.21, with Webb second and Langford third.
Pattison impressive, with a 29.26 for his last 200m.
Men’s 800m B race
The men’s 800m B race is here, it’s got a lot of competition with Langford, Learmonth, Webb, Davis and Pattison all pushing for GB vests this summer.
Thomas Young edges out Zac Shaw in men’s 100m ambulant
Thomas Young edged out Zac Shaw in the men’s 100m ambulant, clocking 10.95 for a season’s best.
Reacting to the win, Young said: “The race felt so good, I got out quite strong, I knew Zac (Shaw) was going to be there chasing me. He’s a great athlete and a great person and I love racing against him.“Of course, winning is always nice but I’m just really happy to come here to this brand new fantastic stadium get the win. It’s amazing to have para athletics at the Diamond League so a huge thank you to the organisers and British Athletics.“The track feels so good. I’m one hundredth off my personal best, which is a season’s best. I ran quicker here than what I did in Dubai so to get a season’s best at this new stadium is amazing.”
Diamond League
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham this afternoon.
The world’s best will be looking to impress as national championships approach before a huge summer of international athletics. Athletes will be looking to work their way into form ahead of the World and European Championships, plus the Commonwealth Games. And the Alexander Stadium, following investment totalling £72m, hosts today’s event, while also being the home for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The very best of Team GB are in action, including Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalists Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and Josh Kerr and Dina Asher-Smith. Great Britain’s sprint queen is working her way back into form after a devastating injury ruined her hopes of individual success in Tokyo, before a bronze in the 4x100m relay, and the 26-year-old is bullish about the prospect of a new world record in one of her events this year.
Schedule
- 11:30 Women U17 4 x 100m Relay Club Connect
- 11:35 Women Seated Shot F55/57
- 11:38 Men U17 4 x 100m Relay Club Connect
- 11:46 Women U20 4 x 100m Relay Club Connect
- 11:54 Men U20 4 x 100m Relay Club Connect
- 12:02 Men 800m Wheelchair
- 12:10 Women 400m Wheelchair
- 12:18 Men 3000m Steeplechase
- 12:33 Women 800m B
- 12:52 Women 400m B
- 13:02 Men 100m Ambulant
- 13:10 Women 100m Ambulant
- 13:21 Women Discus Throw
- 13:24 Men High Jump
- 13:26 Men 800mB
- 13:34 Women 100m B
- 13:42 Men 100m B
- 13:47 Women Pole Vault
- 13:50 Men 400m B
- 14:04 Women 400m Hurdles
- 14:09 Women Final 3 Discus Throw
- 14:17 Women 1500m
- 14:25 Women Long Jump
- 14:29 Men 100m
- 14:37 Men 800m
- 14:46 Women 100m
- 14:53 Men Discus Throw
- 14:55 Men 400m
- 15:03 Women 5000m
- 15:19 Women Final 3 Long Jump
- 15:28 Men 1500m
- 15:41 Men 110m Hurdles
- 15:43 Men Final 3 Discus Throw
- 15:51 Women 800m
- 16:05 Men 4 x 100m Relay
- 16:15 Women 4 x 100m Relay 16:16
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