Dina Asher-Smith, Keely Hodgkinson and Laura Muir jump-started their outdoor seasons with victories in front of an adoring crowd at Müller Diamond League Birmingham.
Asher-Smith won the 100m in 11.11 seconds, driving well out of the blocks and holding off the charge of Tokyo silver medallist Shericka Jackson by one-hundredth of a second.
It was the 26-year-old’s first win over a global field in nearly a year.
“It's my first 100 of the season, it's a long season so we're easing our way into it and it was good,” said Asher-Smith.
“There was a very strong field, I could have done a few things differently if I am being picky but I'm very happy to win in this temperature and against this field.
It was close but that's what the crowd wanted to see! Dina Asher-Smith takes the win...just! #BBCAthletics #DiamondLeague
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2022
“Being British I wanted to come to Birmingham in this beautiful new stadium and put on a show.
“When other girls are three or four races done, you are like 'I hope my opener is sharp enough to beat everybody' and it was so all good.”
Hodgkinson flirted with the 800m world lead in a crowd-pleasing performance to close the meet.
The 20-year-old cruised clear of Jamaica’s Natoya Goule down the back straight bend to cut the tape in 1:58.63, her fastest-ever season opener.
“I could see (Goule) out of the corner of my eye, getting close to me on the straight but I felt in control and was able to wind it up a bit right to the end,” said the Olympic silver medallist.
“The atmosphere was very special with so much support for the British athletes out there. It is lovely for us to have that.”
Hodgkinson will hope to up the ante even further at next week’s Prefontaine Classic, the third stop on the Diamond League circuit, where she will face Olympic champion Athing Mu.
Muir was the class of the women’s 1500m field and duly took first place in 4:02.81.
The Scot and Australia’s Jessica Hull went with the pacemaker to a first 800m in 2:10 and then extended to victory by a margin of 0.61 seconds.
Muir, who was kept out of the indoor season by a back injury, said: “There were no natural front runners in the race so I thought I needed to be prepared to take it out.
The crowd enjoyed that!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2022
Laura Muir is pushed all the way by Jess Hull but she takes the win in the 1500m. #BBCAthletics #DiamondLeague
“The win is more important than the time. I am looking forward to getting my first sub-four this year.”
Meanwhile, local boy Matt Hudson-Smith claimed a statement 400m win in 45.32.
The Rio Olympic finalist from Wolverhampton underlined his recent progress, that produced an early-season run of 44.61, with an impressive performance.
Hudson-Smith said: “I always thought I could come back but it is great to actually prove it.”
In the field, there was an encouraging 6.65 leap for world indoor bronze medallist Lorraine Ugen that earned third in the long jump.
Sportsbeat 2022