Amy Hunt’s clash against Dina Asher-Smith in the 100m final at the Novuna UK Athletics Championships was billed as the blockbuster event of the weekend – and it did not disappoint.
In a shootout between the rising star of British sprinting and the fastest woman ever to represent Great Britain, it was Hunt who came out on top in front of an expectant crowd at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
The 24-year-old flew down the track to clock a time of 11.01 seconds, 0.12 seconds faster than Asher-Smith, who on this occasion had to settle for second place.
The only thing bigger than the marker laid down by Hunt was the smile that adorned her face in the aftermath of her victory, a testament to the fact that she thrives on the biggest of stages.
“I don’t feel too much pressure in my mind because my biggest thing, and what I tell everyone, is that I have so much fun when I run,” said last year’s 200m World Championship silver medallist. “I truly love it so much, and I can’t even express to people how much joy racing brings me.
“Running and running fast is just 10 out of 10 for me. I don’t feel any pressure to perform, and that’s when the times come naturally.”
Asher-Smith had a fine indoor season and she made a rapid start; Hunt was as low as fourth through the first 30 metres, but she built up a head of speed that no one else could match, roaring through to defend her title from last year.
With Hunt vs Asher-Smith set for more sequels this summer, there remain plenty of chances for the master to put her apprentice back in her place. Equally, there are numerous chances for Hunt to assert her dominance once again and leave punters and pundits alike in no doubt who the best is. Daryl Neita, who is not here this weekend, will make it a three-way scrap when fit.
One thing is for sure, Hunt sees Asher-Smith as someone who has pushed her to her current levels, and the Nottinghamshire-native is grateful for the competition.
“It shows that our national championships are one of the best in the world,” she continued. “We not only have the best fans, but we have some of the best athletes currently competing. Dina’s one of the fastest athletes on the circuit, so I know when I come here, I have to bring my A-game.”
Elsewhere, Keely Hodgkinson made it through to the final of the women’s 400m but only after finishing second in her heat and qualifying as one of the four quickest non-winners.
The Olympic 800m champion admitted the switch in distance hasn’t been easy and that she’s still “learning how to piece it together”.
The 24-year-old’s time of 51.62 seconds was the fifth fastest in the West Midlands, while Amber Anning topped the timing sheets with a time of 50.74 seconds.
But Hodgkinson is never one to shirk a fight, and her participation in the discipline is widely viewed as an attempt to make her even more of a threat in the 800m, in which her personal best time is 1:54.33.
“I didn’t want to do the 800m today, I wanted to do the 400m,” said Hodgkinson. “It’s like a personal challenge, but [the 400m] is very different to the 800m. It’s not easier, I’m just learning how to piece it together. It’s about figuring out what balance to get right.”
Hodgkinson has her sights on crushing Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 43-year-old women’s outdoor 800m record time of 1:53.28 this summer – and ran a personal best of 51.14 seconds on her women’s 400m Diamond League debut in Rome in June.
When asked about the differences between the 400m and 800m, she continued: “The 400m is obviously a lot faster. There’s actually a bit of race strategy [that needs to go] into it, and everyone’s strategy is different. Some people are more [suited to running] the 200m and 400m. I’m definitely not. I rely on my last 150 metres. It’s just figuring out what balance to get right; it’s a bit of fun.”
In the finale of the men’s 100m, Romell Glave produced a superb display to come out on top in a personal-best time of 9.98 seconds, ahead of Zharnel Hughes in second and Louie Hinchliffe and Jeremiah Azu, who finished joint-third.
“When I got clear of Azu, I knew that I had it in the bag,” said Glave. “The time was just secondary. Today was about qualifying for the Europeans [European Athletics Championships].
“My mindset has changed. I’m now running with more freedom. Because once you’re running with more freedom, you’re more dangerous.”
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