Dina Asher-Smith shines on contrasting day for Britain's champion sprinters

Dina Asher-Smith got the party started with a sparkling win as the £72 million renovated home of British athletics opened its doors for the first time.

On a contrasting day for Britain’s top two sprinters, Asher-Smith beat a high-quality field to win the Diamond League 100 metres at the impressive new Alexander Stadium.

But Zharnel Hughes, Britain’s other European sprint champion, once again false started, was disqualified and walked straight into a withering blast from track legend Michael Johnson.

“Zharnel Hughes has false started every race I’ve seen him entered over the last year,” said Johnson, referring to his DQs in both last year’s Olympic and British Championship finals.

“At this point he’s taking a lane that should go to someone who’s going to finish the race.”

No such criticism of Britain’s golden girls, with Olympic medallists Laura Muir and Keely Hodgkinson winning impressively in the 1500m and 800m respectfully either side of Asher-Smith’s glory dash.

The 26-year-old Kent rocket exploded out of the blocks and held off Tokyo bronze medallist Shericka Jackson in the closing stages to win in 11.11 seconds.

The time was nothing special but for Asher-Smith, who dreams of championship medals rather than records and times, it was all about getting the job done.

"Being British I wanted to come to Birmingham in this beautiful new stadium and put on show,” she said.

“I could have done a few things differently if I'm being picky but I'm very happy to win against this field and in this wind.

“I'm about the championships and that's always been my focus. So all of our energy and all of our peaks are going down the end of the season.”

Asher-Smith was not done, returning to the track for the final race to help Britain’s