In a breathtaking display of determination and skill, Navasky Anderson etched his name in the history books as he set a new national record and met the World Athletics Championships qualifying standard for the 800m event on deadline day, Sunday.

With mere hours remaining to secure a spot on Jamaica's team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month, Anderson rose to the occasion and delivered a historic run at the DC Track Championships, held at the Thomas O. Berg Track in Washington DC.

Just a week after running a commendable season's best of 1:45.70 at the Under Armour Sunset Tour meeting in Los Angeles, Anderson shaved off a full second from his time. Crossing the finish line in a remarkable 1:44.70, he not only shattered his own national record of 1:45.02 set during the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships on June 10, 2022, but he also became the first Jamaican man to break the 1:45.00 barrier for the 800m.

The DC Track Championships proved to be a thrilling contest, with Anderson finishing second in the race behind Edose Ibadin, who clocked an impressive 1:44.65. Despite the intense competition, Anderson's remarkable performance secured him a coveted spot on Jamaica's team to Budapest.

Throughout the race, Anderson showcased his speed and endurance, running the first 400m in 50.43 before closing the final lap in 54.27.

The performance was the result of his unwavering dedication and perseverance which allowed him to overcome the challenges of battling through injuries for much of the season.

Just a week prior to this outstanding achievement, Anderson had expressed his struggles with injuries during the past collegiate season, which affected his performance at the NCAA Division Championships. However, his faith and determination never wavered, and he continued to work tirelessly towards his goals.

“All glory to God, 1:45.70,” he posted after his season best last week.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s been a rough season, tempted with injuries I felt like I was just failing at everything but through it all I survived and still had faith.”

That faith paid off on Sunday.

Trinidad and Tobago's National Athletics Championships kicked off Saturday with intense competition as athletes vied for spots to represent their country in the upcoming World Athletics Championships in August. The opening day saw several standout performances, including a spectacular display by two-time Olympic medalist Keshorn Walcott.

In the men's javelin event, Walcott demonstrated his prowess and easily retained his crown with a  throw of 80.41 meters. The accomplished athlete, who is no stranger to success on the international stage, threw 79.93 meters on his first attempt, followed by 79.76 meters on his second. However, it was his event-winning throw on the third attempt that truly impressed the crowd.

Point Fortin New Jets' Devin Augustine stole the spotlight in the men's 100m, proving his mettle against an experienced field of sprinters. Augustine's early intent was evident during the preliminaries, where he clocked the second-fastest qualifying time of 10.39 seconds. He further improved in the final, blazing to victory in an impressive 10.26 seconds. Abilene Wildcats' Jerod Elcock was a close silver medalist, finishing just behind Augustine in 10.27 seconds, having been the fastest qualifier with 10.35 seconds earlier on. Concorde's Revell Webster held on to third place in the speedy final with a time of 10.36 seconds.

Meanwhile, in the women's 100m, Michelle Lee Ahye displayed her dominance, making up for her absence from last year's event by clinching victory in 11.31 seconds. Abilene's Reyare Thomas secured the silver medal in 11.43 seconds, closely followed by Concorde's Akilah Lewis, who won the bronze in 11.52 seconds.

Excitement continued to build in the 400m events. In the men's final, Abilene Wildcats secured a 1-2 finish, with Asa Guevara taking the top spot in 46.52 seconds, followed by Shakeem McKay in 46.65 seconds.

Zenith Athletic's Renny Quow completed the top three with a time of 46.78 seconds. The women's 400 meters featured a triumph for Guyana, with Andrea Foster finishing first in 55.08 seconds. Phoenix Athletics' Camille Lewis secured silver in 56.63 seconds, while IG Fastlane's Jenna Thomas earned the bronze in 57.25 seconds.

Great Britain triple jumper Phillips Idowu won gold at the European Championships in Barcelona on this day in 2010.

On a rainy night in Spain, Idowu added to his Commonwealth and world titles by earning victory with the best jump of his career.

The 31-year-old leaped a superb 17.81 metres on his fourth attempt, extending his previous personal best by eight centimetres to finish ahead of Romania’s Marian Oprea.

Idowu said afterwards: “I’ve always worked hard and by the grace of God I’ve come out a gold medallist.”

Idowu’s success was Great Britain’s second gold medal of the 2010 European Championships after Mo Farah had triumphed in the 10,000m.

London-born Idowu had also landed Olympic silver at Beijing in 2008 but injury problems later began to hamper his career and he failed to make it past the qualifying round in his home Games in 2012.

He retired from the sport the following year.

Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, a name synonymous with excellence in track and field, continues to defy expectations and push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport. With an awe-inspiring record of five 100m world championships and two Olympic 100m gold medals, one might wonder what keeps her coming back to compete.

She answered that question on Thursday with a post on social media saying, “I think I’ve reached a point where I have nothing to prove to anyone but, at the same time, I think I have a lot to prove to myself.

“There’s a difference when you believe something and you know what you’re capable of or what’s within your reach. You want to make sure that you’re pushing yourself towards it and trying to accomplish it. I think that was me last year, where I just totally forgot about anybody else’s expectation and just focused on what I know I can do.”

The post reiterated sentiments expressed in a recent interview with Athletic Weekly, where she revealed her burning desire to run faster as the driving force behind her relentless pursuit of greatness. She states, "I used to refrain from stating clearly what I want, and I believe I can run faster – that’s really what has kept me here. I believe that with every fibre of my being."

Last year's consistent runs of seven 10.6 seconds showcased her immense potential, but Fraser Pryce firmly believes there is more to achieve. The prospect of dropping her time further propels her forward, as she remains steadfast in her pursuit of perfection.

What truly sets Fraser Pryce apart is her insatiable hunger for something new, something undiscovered. Despite her remarkable accomplishments, she remains excited and enthusiastic about her journey. The Jamaican sprint queen admits, "I wake up every morning and I go to practice and I’m like, 'man, I’m still doing this.' I still feel good, I still feel hungry."

As her career progresses, Fraser Pryce now views her role as an opportunity to inspire and impact the younger generation of athletes. She sees herself as a living example of what can be achieved with unwavering conviction and dedication. "It’s about impact, showing other athletes what you can do if you really have that conviction," she passionately states.

At 36 years old, Fraser Pryce understands that age should not limit her aspirations. She challenges the notion of ageism in sports, expressing frustration that other athletes in different disciplines can continue, while track and field athletes often face premature retirement. As long as she remains healthy, she vows to keep showing up, rewriting the record books along the way.

Fraser Pryce's dedication to her craft is unparalleled, and she is mindful of how she spends her time. Despite being a devoted mother, she prioritizes her training and even delegates cheering duties to her son's father during football matches. She knows that every second counts in her pursuit of greatness.

Surprisingly, after so many years at the pinnacle of the sport, Fraser Pryce remains humble and self-aware, acknowledging that she still has room for improvement.

 “I don’t have the best technique. I really have to work hard to cement it. It’s something that I have to go to the line and actively process in my head to say ‘this is what we’re doing, this is what we’re doing Shelly’ so I’m still learning to do that,” she states.

“I think one of the things is learning to do it being relaxed, as well as making sure that it’s automatic, it’s something that I can switch on and switch off if I need to. A lot of that takes concentration and replicating it daily in practice. It must be consistent and I think the more times I’m able to do it is, the easier it will become.”

Sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith says he endures daily injury pain but insists he will be ready for next month’s World Championships after leaving last weekend’s Diamond League meet in a wheelchair.

Great Britain’s squad for Budapest is due to be announced on Friday afternoon, with 400m runner Hudson-Smith seeking to better the bronze he won in Eugene last year.

The 28-year-old clocked a season’s best 44.72 seconds in finishing fourth in London on Sunday before raising concerns about his fitness by requiring mobility assistance at the end of the race.

He opted against revealing the specific location of an ongoing issue he termed as a “niggle” as he allayed fears about him being absent from the track in Hungary.

“I’m not at 100 per cent but I’ll be ready for the Worlds,” said Hudson-Smith.

“Listen, money is on the line, I’ve trained all year. I hope people understand how much work I have put into this year.

“I didn’t do all this work just to fall at the last hurdle. Whether I am good or bad, I’m gonna put my all in.

“At championships I always do my best and as you see when I get into finals I make medals. We’re loading for Worlds so we’ll be ready for when it matters.”

South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk clinched 400m glory at London Stadium in 44.36 secs.

American duo Bryce Deadmon and Vernon Norwood also crossed ahead of European champion Hudson-Smith.

“I couldn’t walk (after the race in London),” he said. “It was burning at the top bend so I had to push through.

“It aggravates on the bends and my event is two bends so it’s a matter of where it’s going to hurt.

“I’ve had an ongoing niggle since April. It’s been hard to manage. Sometimes it’s up, sometimes it’s down.”

Asked if he endures pain when lying in bed, he replied: “It’s every day, man, literally it’s bad. Christine (Ohuruogu, former 400m sprinter) has had similar issues as well and I’ve talked to her about it.

“I’ve got the best people in the world looking after me. It is just managing it and changing training so I’m fit and now we can put some speed into it and lean into it.”

 As the highly anticipated 2023 World Athletics Championships draw near, all eyes are on the legendary sprinter Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce.

With an incredible record of five 100m world titles under her belt, Fraser-Pryce's quest for a sixth crown has been the talk of the athletics world. However, recent knee injury concerns have raised doubts about her chances of defending her title.

In May, Fraser-Pryce suffered a knee injury during her training stint in Kenya. Despite the setback, the determined athlete refused to be deterred. Last week, she showcased her resilience by running times of 10.82 seconds in Lucerne last Thursday and 10.83 seconds in Madrid three days later. However, the question lingers – has her injury jeopardized her chances of clinching another gold?

As the competition heats up, Fraser-Pryce faces fierce opponents, each vying for the coveted top spot on the podium. Gold medal contenders such as Shericka Jackson (10.65), Sha’Carri Richardson (10.71), and Marie Josee Ta Lou (10.75) have all posted impressive times this season, times that Fraser-Pryce has yet to achieve this season.

Fraser-Pryce's comments after her race in Madrid on Sunday have fueled concerns about her fitness level. When asked about her recovery, she candidly admitted, "If I'm being truthful, then it's no, it's not 100 per cent, but you know it is what it is." Despite the uncertainty surrounding her injury, the Jamaican sprint queen remains focused on the task at hand.

Acknowledging the formidable competition she faces, Fraser-Pryce recognizes that other athletes are in peak form. However, she remains undaunted, mentally preparing herself to give her all on the starting line. "There are so many other athletes that I think I are dealing with different things," she stated, emphasizing her determination to perform at her best.

For Fraser-Pryce, the key lies in focusing on what she can control. While her injury recovery may not be at full strength, she refuses to let it define her performance. "I just focus on what I can do and maximizing on those things," she asserted.

As fans and fellow athletes eagerly await the World Championships, the burning question remains – will Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce's indomitable spirit and sheer talent be enough to secure a historic sixth 100m world title? Only time will tell as the world's fastest women take to the track, each one vying for glory and immortality in the sport of athletics.

Fifty-two-year-old Garth Robinson, a talented athlete with a passion for track and field, is on a mission to break the12-year-old age group world record of 22.44 seconds for the 200m. Last weekend, he came incredibly close, clocking an impressive 22.59 seconds. However, Robinson is determined to go even faster and secure his place in history.

Born in England, Garth Robinson's life took a significant turn when he moved to Jamaica in 1978. Growing up in the picturesque parish of Manchester, he attended Holmwood Technical High School. It was during his time at Holmwood that Robinson first delved into the world of track and field. He represented the school at the prestigious ISSA Boys Championships in 1989, showcasing his talent as a member of the 4x400m relay team.

Track and field is deeply ingrained in Jamaican culture, and Robinson's love for the sport grew naturally. He actively participated in school sports days, SDC meets, church meets, and more. Athletics became more than just a hobby; it became a passion.

Recently, a friend and his sister, Andrea Robinson, who competed internationally for USA Masters, encouraged Robinson, who now lives in the United States, to explore the world of Masters Athletics. Embracing the challenge, he set his sights on breaking records and representing his country at the Masters Championships.

Last summer, Robinson made notable progress, running 11.6 seconds in the 100m and 24.26 seconds in the 200m, securing second and third place, respectively. But it was this year that he truly shined. He achieved exceptional results, claiming victory indoors in both the 60m and 200m with times of 7.16 and 23.34 seconds, respectively. These times made him the fastest in the world for the 50-54 age group.

But Robinson's journey did not stop there.

At the USATF Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in North Carolina last weekend he defied expectations, clocking 10.88 seconds to win the 100m and an impressive 22.59 seconds to claim victory in the 200m, despite facing a challenging headwind of -1.6m/s.

Robinson's ultimate goal is to break the long-standing world record of 22.44 seconds set by Willie Gault in 2011. With his current form and determination, he believes he has what it takes to achieve this remarkable feat.

“The 10.88 and 22.59 exceeded my expectations. With the 100m time, I thought that’s good enough speed for a 21 or 22-second run, providing the conditions are suitable. My conditioning is good so the possibilities are there to run faster,” he told Sportsmax.TV. “I have another race in Indiana this weekend in Indiana, so we will see.”

While Robinson's heart longs to represent Jamaica, he is eager to compete overseas for the United States at the world Masters championships, provided his schedule, funding, and circumstances permit. The master's program in Jamaica is unfortunately not as developed as he would hope, leading him to explore opportunities abroad.

Dina Asher-Smith became the first British woman to break the 11-second barrier in the 100 metres on this day in 2015.

At the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, the then 19-year-old clocked a time of 10.99 seconds in her heat at London’s Olympic Stadium whilst also trimming 0.03 seconds from her own British record.

Even though Asher-Smith finished in fourth place behind Dafne Schippers in the final having run a time of 11.06, it did not overshadow her earlier achievement.

Asher-Smith said: “I’m in the 10 seconds now so I’m absolutely over the moon.

“I felt like I was in good shape, but feeling in good shape and then doing it are two very different things.

“When I crossed the line and saw the time I was beaming. I’m really, really happy. I was like, ‘What on earth have I just run?'”

The record for Asher-Smith launched her as a force on the world stage.

Winning Olympic bronze in the 4x100m relay in Rio in 2016, she also went on to complete a sprint double and anchored the sprint relay squad to win gold at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin.

Asher-Smith went on the achieve bigger things at the 2019 World Championships where she claimed silver in the 100 metres with a time of 10.83, and took the 200m title in 21.88, both British records.

Jamaican 800m national record holder, Navasky Anderson, expressed gratitude after running a season’s best 1:45.70, the second fastest time of his career, to finish second at the Under Armour Sunset Tour in Los Angeles on Saturday.

American Isaiah Harris took the win with 1:44.85 while John Rivera was third in 1:45.80.

The 23-year-old has had what he described as a “rough” 2023 season following up from an outstanding breakthrough year in 2022.

Prior to Saturday’s race, only his fifth race of the season, the Mississippi State Junior had a season’s best of 1:47.67 which he did to finish as runner-up at the National Championships earlier in July.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s been a rough season, tempted with injuries, moments I felt like everything was going wrong, times when I felt like I was just failing everything but, through it all, I survived and I still had faith,” Anderson said in a post in Instagram after the race.

Anderson had an excellent season in 2022. The high point came at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June where the former St. Jago man ran a personal best and national record 1:45.02 to finish second.

He went on to claim his first maiden Jamaican title later that month before competing at both the World Championships in Eugene and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He reached the final in Birmingham, running 1:48.75 for fifth.

Although he won’t be at this year’s World Championships in Budapest having failed to achieve the 1:44.70 qualifying standard, Anderson believes that he will be able to get back to his 2022 self in the future.

“It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge but those bad moments can be channeled into great performances. I’m still learning and stepping out into a new world…the world of elites and I’m ready to take on the world and do what I was born to do,” he said.

Noted track coach Gary Evans has shared his belief that his athlete, Kyron McMaster, is ready to contend for a medal at the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Coach Evans believes that with the right preparation and mindset, McMaster can even dip below the elusive 47-second barrier at the World Championships in Budapest next month.

Last Thursday, McMaster secured a significant victory in Slovakia, winning the 400m hurdles in a season's best time of 47.26 seconds. At the P-T-S Meeting, the British Virgin Islands star raced to victory ahead of David Kendziera the USA, who clocked in at 48.95 seconds with Dany Brandt of Switzerland taking third place with a season-best time of 49.25 seconds.

McMaster, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, joined Evans’ group at the end of last season after spending the previous five years with Jamaican coach Lennox Graham, who is also the Assistant Coach at Clemson University.

Under Graham’s guidance, McMaster won two Commonwealth Games titles and was fourth at the Toyko Olympics in a lifetime best 47.08, a time that would have won the gold medal at every other Olympic Games except for 1992 when Kevin Young won in a then world record of 46.78 and in Tokyo where Karsten Warholm dropped a jaw-dropping 45.94 to win gold.

Two years on, Coach Evans believes the 26-year-old McMaster is now primed to achieve a new lifetime best and a place on the podium of a global championship.

Prior to McMaster’s season-best run in Slovakia, the BVI-born hurdler has been running 48s all season so his performance in Slovakia was somewhat surprising. Regarding McMaster's readiness and recent improvement, Coach Evans stated, "I do believe that he probably should have run 47 a little earlier. But the thing is sometimes when you get a kid from a new coach he has to get used to the program and then you do things a little differently."

In Evans’ training group McMaster trains with the likes of Steven Gardiner, an Olympic and World Champion, Matthew Hudson-Smith, a World Championship bronze medallist as well as Michael Cherry, a 400m standout. Working with them has helped McMaster get settled and improve. He just now needs to focus on the task at hand.

"Kyron studies hard, studies very, very hard and I told him, sometimes you're doing too much studying. You're trying to do my job, the agent's job. I just need you to run," the veteran coach said.

Speaking about the training plan to get McMaster to this stage before the World Championships, Coach Evans explained, "We worked on what we had to work on the track and when we step out on the track, just run... know that I got to run 400 metres but I got 10 sticks. That's one of the 10 items that's going to interrupt me and that's how we look at it now."

In Budapest, McMaster will face Warholm, American champion Rai Benjamin and the world champion, Alison dos Santos, all of whom have run 46 seconds for the 400m hurdles. For McMaster to get onto the podium, he has to be capable to dipping below 47 seconds.

Evans believes he is ready to do just that.

“[I] already told him to get ready to get a new tattoo (of his new personal best). I have a few goals when I'm coaching; two goals, we are going to win a medal and when we step on that track at the end of the season, we going to know we ran our PB."

Regarding McMaster's competitors, Coach Evans noted, "You got the big three; you got Santos back, you got Warholm, and you got Rai Benjamin, somebody's going to choke, somebody's going to make a mistake.

“Somebody's going to take a step back. One of them hurdlers is going to step back and do a 47. You got to be ready to say, ‘Okay, I need to make sure I step forward. It's like I told Matthew Hudson Smith last year when Stevie (Gardiner) stepped out the picture. Matthew Hudson, this is your time to go get your medal.”

Coach Evans further expressed his confidence in McMaster's potential to succeed, saying, "I think we got a good game plan that we're going come up with when we get there. Kyron, it's your time to step in the picture... You got to stay in front of them... Your foot on the gas. You got to be on the gas now."

McMaster races next at the Eddie Murphy Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on August 4. It will be his final race before departing for his medal hunt in Budapest.

“My objective is for him to run in Memphis where it'll be a great. It'll be a great field. You know CJ Allen that ran 47.8 and two other guys. A lot of people are going to use that Memphis race. For our people, that's their last race and then they're going across [to Budapest],” Evans concluded.

Trinidad and Tobago's Janae De Gannes etched her name in the record books as she secured the gold medal in the Long Jump event at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Associations (NACAC) Under-18 Championship held at the Estadio Nacional, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Representing Tobago, De Gannes displayed her prowess right from the start, shattering the previous record with a phenomenal jump of 6.11m on her first attempt. She continued to dominate the field, leaving her competitors in her wake. Her subsequent jumps included distances of 5.59m (third attempt), 5.99m (fifth attempt), and 6.06m (sixth attempt), further solidifying her position as the undisputed champion.

Coming close behind was Puerto Rican athlete Legna Edith Alvarez, who claimed the silver medal with an impressive jump of 6.08m. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Lyttle from Belize secured the bronze medal with her commendable attempt of 5.72m.

Zharnel Hughes had a premonition he would blitz the British 200m record in the specific time of 19.73 seconds ahead of doing so at Sunday’s sold-out London Diamond League meet.

The 28-year-old warmed up for next month’s World Championships in Budapest by impressively shaving 0.21 seconds off the previous national mark of 19.94, set by John Regis in 1993.

Hughes revealed post-race that he had earlier written his precise finishing time, which was only good enough for third place behind Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, in a notebook.

His latest feat was witnessed by around 50,000 spectators at London Stadium and comes just a month after he broke Linford Christie’s 30-year-old 100m record when he ran 9.83 seconds in New York.

“It’s the exact time,” he said. “If you want to come around here, you can check it out.

“It depends how I am feeling and, if I know I am in good shape, I just write down a time and I use that time as a target.

“I don’t care about winning as long as I execute the plan that my coach wanted and we get the British record. I wanted to do it here on home soil and I did it.”

Hughes previously ran 19.77 with an illegal wind speed to claim the UK 200m title in Manchester earlier this month.

He burst out of the blocks on Sunday and pushed American world champion Lyles hard before his rival and Tebogo of Botswana moved clear on the home straight.

Hughes credited a “Kobe Bryant mentality” for his impressive recent results and warned he can become “much faster”.

“I’ve seen some little bits I can work on – and it’s exciting for me,” he said.

“I’m not pressured one bit. I am enjoying myself. I can get much faster.

“I spoke to you about that Kobe Bryant mentality. For me, I just wanted to go there and give it a great performance.”

Hughes broke away from his post-race interview to watch compatriot Dina Asher-Smith finish second in the women’s 100m, before Britain’s Jemma Reekie capped a stirring end to Sunday’s action by clinching 800m glory.

Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith crossed the line in 10.85 seconds, 0.10sec behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, while compatriot Daryll Neita finished fourth.

“I am always disappointed not to win but this shows I am building,” said Asher-Smith.

“It is all about the end of August and Budapest, which isn’t a long way away, so I am excited.

“I managed to see the end of the men’s 200m and I am so pleased for Zharnel. British sprinting is doing so well.”

Zharnel Hughes warned he can “get much faster” after blitzing the British 200m record in front of a sold-out London Diamond League crowd.

The 28-year-old warmed up for next month’s World Championships in Budapest by shaving 0.21 seconds off the previous national mark of 19.94, set by John Regis in 1993.

His latest feat was witnessed by around 50,000 spectators at London Stadium and comes just a month after he broke Linford Christie’s 30-year-old 100m record when he ran 9.83 seconds in New York.

Yet the phenomenal time was only good enough for third place on the day as world champion Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana claimed the top two podium spots.

“I wanted to do it here on home soil and I did it,” Hughes said of the record.

“I don’t care about winning as long as I execute the plan that my coach wanted and we get the British record.

“I’ve seen some little bits I can work on – and it’s exciting for me. I’m not pressured one bit. I am enjoying myself. I can get much faster.”

Hughes previously ran 19.77 with an illegal wind speed to claim the UK 200m title in Manchester earlier this month.

He burst out of the blocks on Sunday and pushed Lyles hard before his rival moved clear on the home straight.

Hughes forecasted his time in a notebook and credited a “Kobe Bryant mentality” for his impressive recent results.

“It’s the exact time,” he said. “If you want to come around here, you can check it out.

“It depends how I am feeling and, if I know I am in good shape, I just write down a time and I use that time as a target.

“I spoke to you about that Kobe Bryant mentality. For me, I just wanted to go there and give it a great performance.”

Hughes broke away from his post-race interview to watch compatriot Dina Asher-Smith finish second in the women’s 100m, before Britain’s Jemma Reekie capped a stirring end to Sunday’s meet by clinching 800m glory.

Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith crossed the line in 10.85 seconds, 0.10sec behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, while compatriot Daryll Neita finished fourth.

“I am always disappointed not to win but this shows I am building,” said Asher-Smith.

“It is all about the end of August and Budapest, which isn’t a long way away, so I am excited.

“I managed to see the end of the men’s 200m and I am so pleased for Zharnel.

“British sprinting is doing so well.”

Zharnel Hughes smashed the 30-year-old British 200m record by clocking 19.73 seconds in front of a sell-out crowd at the London Diamond League.

The 28-year-old shaved 0.21 seconds off the previous mark of 19.94, set by John Regis at the World Championships in 1993, in finishing third at London Stadium.

His latest feat was witnessed by around 50,000 spectators and comes just a month after he broke Linford Christie’s 100m record when he ran 9.83 seconds in New York.

American world 200m champion Noah Lyles, who on Saturday backed Hughes for the British record, triumphed in 19.47 secs, while Letsile Tebogo of Botswana was second in 19.50 secs.

Hughes claimed he had earlier forecasted his record-breaking time.

“I did it again – I predicted it,” he said. “I wrote down that exact time this morning, at about 9.30am.

“I wanted to get the British record here on home soil and I did it.

“I don’t care about winning as long as I execute the time that my coach wanted and get the British record.”