Neita in the 'form of her life' as she progresses in 200m

Athletics 04 Aug 24

Daryll Neita insists she is in the form of her life after strolling into the 200m semi-finals just 14 hours after nearly winning a medal in the 100m.

Neita was fourth in the 100m on Saturday night, missing bronze by just four-hundredths of a second in what was the best result by a Team GB woman in the event for 64 years.

She put that behind her with a comfortable win on Sunday morning, her 22.39s the fifth fastest time of the session to join Team GB teammates Dina Asher-Smith and Bianca Wiliams in the next round.

“I made history and I am so proud of myself. I came last in Tokyo and then to come here and be fourth shows I am among the best in the world, I am definitely in the form of my life,” she said.

“It was good to come out today, yesterday there was a lot of adrenaline. Last night’s result just gives me that hunger.

“Today was great because there was a good crowd. I got back to the village at around midnight and went straight to bed. I did one Instagram post, but my coach said no social media, no scrolling, one post and then bed.

“It was nice to have a few hours sleep and still come out and able to produce a solid run and qualify safely for the next round. I am very excited.”

Meanwhile, Asher-Smith admits she is still emotionally drained after failing to make the 100m final last night. She also qualified for the 200m semis in 22.28s, the third-fastest time of the heats, and insists she is in a good place to contend for a medal.

“I ran 22.28s, my body is literally absolutely fine,” she said, exasperated at last night’s result.

“I am really happy with that run, it was very easy, a good 22, probably the easiest 22 I have ever ran.”

Williams finished third in her heat in 22.77s to qualify on what was mostly a successful morning for Team GB.

In the men’s long jump, Jacob Fincham-Dukes pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the last round to secure his place in the final.

The 27-year-old fouled on his first attempt and then jumped 7.38m in the second round, leaving him on the verge of an early exit.

But he came up trumps when he needed to with a 7.96m leap enough to see him through in eighth place.

First up this morning, Elizabeth Bird reached the final of the women’s 300m steeplechase by finishing fourth in her heat.

Bird, who set a new national record to finish ninth in the final in Tokyo, clocked 9:16.46 in a photo finish to reach Tuesday’s medal race.

Meanwhile, teammate Aimee Pratt bowed out after finishing 11th in her heat.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Lina Nielsen booked her place in Tuesday’s semi-final after finishing second in her heat in 54.65s, while teammate Jessie Knight will go through the repechage after crossing the line in fifth.

Tade Ojora also got the job done over hurdles, as he made it through to the men’s 110m semi-finals.

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