Hughes and Asher-Smith complete 100m double for Britain

London :On a hot, still evening in the Olympic Stadium where Usain Bolt set the world record of 9.58 seconds, Hughes, an occasional training partner of the great Jamaican back in Kingston, set a Championship record of 9.95 to pip fast-finishing team mate Reece Prescod by one-hundredth of a second.
The race to find the continent’s fastest woman saw Asher-Smith end the 100m reign of Dutchwoman Daphne Schippers in brilliant style, clocking 10.85, equalling the world’s fastest time this year and setting a British record.
The 22-year-old Asher-Smith, the reigning European 200m champion, surged clear early in the race, with Germany’s Gina Lueckenkemper taking silver in 10.98 and Schippers bronze in a season’s best 10.99.
It is the first time Britain have been able to boast both the men’s and women’s champion at the same edition in the 84-year history of the Championships.
The country’s sprint domination on the opening day of finals was underlined by Britain boasting three men in the top four, with Chijindu ‘CJ’ Ujah clocking 10.06 behind Turkish bronze medallist Jak Ali Harvey (10.01).
The result, though, may have been different had France’s Jimmy Vicaud, the fastest qualifier with an effortless 9.97 semi, not pulled out before the final with an adductor injury.
“I am happy and the job is done. I felt a bit of cramp so I don’t think I could have gone any faster but I’m just happy,” said Hughes, who was almost overhauled by Prescod as the silver medallist dipped under 10 seconds for the first time.

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