Dina Asher-Smith is refusing to get carried away despite producing a brilliant run to finish as the fastest qualifier from her 200m heat at the World Championships in Beijing.
Asher-Smith came across the line in 22.22 seconds to set a lifetime best, but looked like she had an extra gear to call on.
That time, however, was just 0.13 seconds shy of Kathy Cook’s 31-year-old British record which could be broken during tomorrow’s semi-finals.
The 19-year-old won’t be the only Brit looking to seal a spot in the final with Bianca Williams and Margaret Adeoye also making it through the heats.
The pair ran 22.85 and 23.10 respectively and, while Asher-Smith might have ran the quickest on Wednesday, she says there is still plenty of work left to do.
“I’m really, really happy, I didn’t expect to go out there and run a PB, nobody would expect that,” Asher-Smith told British Athletics.
“I was just trying to qualify, so I made sure I ran a good bend, then try and relax and ease my way to the line, and get a good lane in the semi-final.
“I am quite happy to have done that, but to get a PB I am absolutely over the moon.
“I’ve still got to qualify for the final, to even be a medal contender so even when you get there, each of the eight on the line have equal chance so thanks for the compliment but I still have a lot of work to do.”
In the men’s 200m Zharnel Hughes ran 20.14 to take victory in his semi-final and will now take his spot sandwiched between Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin for Thursday’s final.
“I have no expectations going into the final. I just want to go out and execute my race and hopefully get a medal,” said Hughes.
Elsewhere, there was a seventh place finish for Holly Bradshaw in the pole vault while Rabah Yousif came in sixth in the 400m final with a time of 44.68.
And in the women’s 400m hurdles final Eilidh Child finished sixth in 54.78 and admits it was a far-from ideal race as she failed to trouble the podium finishers.
“I just didn’t execute the right race. I stuttered on a couple of the hurdles and I felt if it was smoother, I would have run a much better race,” said Child.
“I was disappointed with the hurdling and it was all a little bit messy. I’m perhaps not making the right decisions.
“I feel like I should be amongst the medals or at least closer and I just feel like I’m throwing these opportunities away.”
© Sportsbeat 2015