Daryll Neita escapes shadow of Dina Asher-Smith with British win ahead of Worlds

Dina Asher-Smith was last night dethroned as Britain’s sprint queen - just 20 days before the World Championships.

The Kent rocket was beaten into second place by long-time pal Daryll Neita, who scorched to a wind-assisted 10.80 seconds to win her first 100 metres national title.

“I’m annoyed because I’d rather win. Fuming because I don’t like losing,” said Asher-Smith, who defends her 200m world title in Oregon.

“But the most important thing is to be in one piece - I’m happy to be injury-free heading on the plane to Eugene. It doesn’t impact on my expectations."

Asher-Smith was back at the scene of the hamstring injury which wrecked her Olympics 12 months ago.

She clocked 10.87secs in a +3.8m/s tailwind and did nothing wrong, but on the day could not live with relay team mate Neita.

The Londoner capped a shock evening in the sprints with Jeremiah Azu running 9.90secs to win the men’s 100m and beat the more fancied Reece Prescod and Zharnel Hughes into the minor medals.

“I had it on my lockscreen on my phone since last year: 2022 British champion," said the pocket rocket. "To stand here and say it I’m so grateful. It’s just the beginning, I’m 21 and I’m looking to change sprinting in Britain forever.”

If few had seen that coming from the European Under-23 champion, then Neita had dropped a series of heavy hints she was about to strike.

In Tokyo, where injury de-powered Asher-Smith, she was the only Briton to reach the final. And here in Manchester she looked a million dollars through the rounds.

“I really believe there is no limit to me,” said the 25-year-old. “To finally get the gold just means so much.”

Neita has long lived in Asher-Smith’s shadow but reckons she is now ready to explode on the global stage.

“We’re both