GO FASTER! – Can Brits Tokyo Shift?
The 2025 World Athletics Championships kick off in Tokyo this week and all eyes will be on the fastest women in the world. With some of the world’s biggest stars taking to the track, where do Great Britain’s top sprinters fit in? Clare McEwen talks us through their chances.
Traditionally, the nations to beat in sprinting are USA, Jamaica and a sprinkling of other lightning-quick Caribbean countries. This year it’s no different and British athletes Dina Asher-Smith (above, left), Amy Hunt, and Daryll Neita will have to be at the top of their game to reach the final, let alone medal. But they don’t want to be drifting outside the medals in Tokyo, so they’re all throwing everything at these World Championships.
Dina, Daryll, and Amy
Dina Asher-Smith recently moved back to London after splitting with her coach. Unhappy with recent performances, she decided something had to change and having only moved to Texas last October, she packed her bags and returned to her home town. Right before a major championship. A bold move that put a smile on her face and a swagger in her race.
After coming back home, Asher-Smith has logged some excellent performances. At London’s Diamond League event she only finished behind Olympic 200m silver medallist Julien Alfred. She then won her third 200m national title at the UK Championships in Birmingham, breaking the competition record, finishing in 22.14 seconds. Whatever she’s tweaked since she’s been back in London Town, it’s working.
The UK Champs win was a close run thing (pun intended) and needed a photo finish to separate Asher-Smith and the in-form Amy Hunt. Hunt, who’s still only 23, convincingly won the 100m event, taking it by a couple of metres after Daryll Neita was disqualified for a false start. Hunt ran personal bests in both the 100m (11.02) and 200m (22.14) events in Birmingham. She’s had a fantastic year, moving into senior events with confidence and the results to back it up.
Although DQed from the 100m final, Daryll Neita came third in the 200m, in a time of 22.30, just behind Asher-Smith and Hunt. It was a shame we didn’t get to see her form in the 100m, but she’s eyeing up an ambitious podium place in Tokyo. Having narrowly missed out on a 100m medal at the Paris Olympics (finishing in the toughest of all spots, fourth), Neita also parted with her coach to try something different. She moved from Italy to Florida to pursue her dream of medalling in a major individual championship race. Nothing is being left to chance.
Up Against the World
The Brits may be ambitious but they will be up against the very best sprinters in the world. Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred (St Lucia), reigning World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson (USA), and the in-form Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) will all be there, although Richarson has struggled for pace this season. Jefferson-Wooden, on paper, is the clear favourite with five of the sixth fastest times this year plus a world leading time of 10.65.
Julien Alfred has run 10.75 this year and is the reigning Olympic champion; it’s going to be a mouth-watering finale. And then there’s the small matter of Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. With acres of experience at the top level and a cupboard full of shiny gold medals, Fraser-Pryce will give it all to come away with one last 100m medal as she competes in her last major championship.
Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) is going for her third world 200m title. The defending champion is hoping to match Allyson Felix’s (USA) record although after missing the Olympics with injury, is having to build back up to her best. She’s not far off the pace though, and she won’t be fazed by the occasion. Julien Alfred is the fastest in the world so far this year with a blistering 21.71. She finished fourth at the last World Champs but won silver at the Paris Olympics. Hoping for the sprint double, she’s my favourite to win this event.
Although she’s better known as a 100m sprinter, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is capable of running a very fast race. She’s run the second fastest race of the year (21.84) so far and will be eyeing up her own sprint double after winning both events at the US Championships. With Olympic champion Gabby Thomas out with injury, McKenzie Long fills the spot in the US team and she’s no shabby sprinter. She’s the third fastest over the distance this season, but is also a debutant and this is a big stage. If there’s a chink in her armour, it’s the lack of experience, but she’ll be up there at the top fighting for medals.
What are the Brits’ chances?
So with such a strong field in both events, where does this leave British chances? All three Brits are capable of putting the quick cat amongst the quicker pigeons but realistically, though at best they’ll be fighting for bronze. Asher-Smith’s best time this year is 10.93, Neita’s is bang on 11-seconds and Hunt ran a 11.02 PB in her Birmingham win. In sprint terms, all are a way off the world leading 10.65 over 100m. There’s no room for error in the sprints though and every one of them is capable of pouncing on errors from the favourites and sneaking into the medals.
Between Asher-Smith’s spring in her step, Neita’s experience and determination, and Hunt’s confidence and speed, all are in fine form. And do you know what? I have a sneaking suspicion at least one of them will sneak a surprise bronze medal. But don’t put any money on that, my predictions are unreliable at best (you don’t want to see my fantasy football team!).
100m prediction:
- Julien Alfred
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
200m prediction:
- Julien Alfred
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
- Dina Asher-Smith
What about relays?
Teams:
4×100 relays Dina Asher-Smith, Success Eduan, Joy Eze, Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt, Daryll Neita
4×400 relays – Amber Anning, Hannah Brier, Poppy Malik, Yemi Mary John, Victoria Ohuruogu, Nicole Yeargin
The relays are where Team GB have a really good chance of medalling. The British women are probably the second favourites to win the 4x100m in Tokyo. On paper, the US pip them to gold, but GB have been pretty consistent with getting the baton round and potential slip-ups in change-overs are what make the 4x100m exciting, right? In Paris last year, the GB team took Olympic silver with a time only seven-hundredths behind the US team (if you’re new to athletics, that’s close).
Although Imani-Lara Lansiquot is out of the British team with injury, they have strong contenders for their fourth runner, including the experience of Desiree Henry or the youth of Success Eduan. And it was Eduan who ran the anchor leg in the World Relays event in May, where Great Britain claimed gold after beating the US, Jamaica and Spain. The US quartet will be the one to beat at the World’s in Tokyo, but Great Britain could add World Championship gold to Olympic silver. It’s an absolute must-watch final.
Though not strictly a sprint, the 4x400m relay provides a tough challenge for GB, but they will be in the mix for medals, barring accidents. Team GB did win a bronze at the last World Championships in Budapest, but that was due to the disqualification of USA. They also won bronze at the Olympics last year, although that was helped by Jamaica not finishing. USA won gold in Paris, but don’t have half their winning quartet available (although will be desperate to make amends for the DQ in Budapest two years ago).
Femke Bol is the Netherlands’ not-so-secret weapon, Jamaica are always in the mix, and Great Britain, despite an unconvincing meet at the World Relays, do have experience on their side. Recently, the top four teams have been USA, Netherlands, Jamaica, and Great Britain but Spain’s surprise title win at the World Relays in May has thrown their hat into the ring too. If everyone gets the baton round safely, I think Great Britain may be squeezed out of the medal places this time around. But the baton is everything: get it round and you’re always in with a chance.
Realistically, the 4x100m relay is Great Britain’s best chance of a medal in Tokyo. But there are opportunities to nick a podium place in both 100m and 200m sprint races and an outside chance in the 4x400m. It’s going to be an exciting meet for the British sprinters. Don’t miss a thing.
When and where to watch
The BBC has full coverage of the World Championship in Tokyo, both live and highlight programmes.
Sprint and relay times are as follows:
100m
Heats: Saturday 13th September
Semi-final & Final: Sunday 14th September
200m
Heats: Wednesday 17th September
Semi-final: Thursday 18th September
Final: Friday 19th September
4x100m relay
Heats: Saturday 20th September
Final: Sunday 21st September
4x400m relay
Heats: Saturday 20th September
Final: Sunday 21st September
