8th August 2018
REIGNING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS ASHER-SMITH AND HUGHES HEAD TO BIRMINGHAM'S MÜLLER GRAND PRIX
- Newly crowned European 100m champions Dina Asher-Smith & Zharnel Hughes confirmed to compete in Birmingham over 200m and 100m respectively
- European silver medallist and 9.96 man Reece Prescod also join star-studded 100m line-up alongside Hughes, Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman among others
- Tickets available at britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets
History makers and newly crowned European champions Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes have today been confirmed in a fantastic home-coming of British success at Birmingham’s Muller Grand Prix next Saturday (18 August) following their world-class exploits in Berlin yesterday evening.
For Asher-Smith, the golden girl of British sprinting will definitely return to the UK’s second city with one gold medal around her neck following her stunning British record run in Germany to claim the European 100m title.
Hoping to retain her European 200m title and play a part in British 4x100m glory in the remainder of the week, Asher-Smith spoke of her excitement to return to compete back in the UK, especially given the reaction her 10.85 gold winning run has brought about from the British public already, saying:
“Last night was everything I wanted it to be a more – to win gold and run a British record and 10.8 in such an iconic stadium was just incredible.
On the support in the stadium and back home and looking ahead to Birmingham, the newly crowned champion added:
“Coming to a championships outside of the UK and performing well really brings home how amazing the support back home is – my phone was constantly lighting up with messages and notifications last night and that really reinforces just how lucky we are to have amazing and loyal athletics fans in Britain.
“I know that the job is only a third of the way done for me over here in Berlin at the moment as I have still the 200m and 4x100m to go. I won’t have much time for celebrating with the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham a few days after I get back home. I know the 200m field is going to be very strong there as the last Diamond League race before the final but I am in good shape and love competing against the best in the world in front of my home crowd.”
For Hughes, being introduced as the reigning European champion come Birmingham is something that will be a memorable first, and the 9.91 man can’t wait to take to the start line on August 18:
“Last night was amazing – to claim a first major international title is a dream come true and is what I’ve been working towards for so long now.
“To have had pockets of British fans and British flags in the stadium last night indicates how amazing our fans are, so to be able to return home with a gold medal around my neck and compete in Birmingham is going to be such a memorable home-coming on August 18. With that said I’m not there to make up the numbers – with the quality of the guys in the race I’ll be looking to run a really great time for the fans to repay them for getting behind us Brits here in Berlin.”
Also confirmed to join the pair in Birmingham is Britain’s latest sub-10 star and newly crowned European silver medallist Reece Prescod following his 9.96 clocking last night.
The tenth British man in history to legally run under ten seconds, Prescod also claimed the British U23 national record and will aim for another strong performance as he lines up against some of the world’s best sprinters including Noah Lyles (USA), Christian Coleman (USA) and Akani Simbine (RSA).
Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes and Reece Prescod will be three of countless global stars competing at the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham on Saturday 18 August. Tickets are available at www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets