Athletics Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final: Asher-Smith shines on bright day for British talent
The World Indoor Tour final took place on Saturday 25 February, with several Olympic medallists starring. Find out everything you need to know about the final event of the series below.
Athletics
Birmingham hosted the final of the World Indoor Tour on Saturday 25 February with a host of Olympic and world medallists impressing in the athletics series finale.
There was plenty for the home crowd to cheer at the Utilita Arena, too. Home favourite and 2019 World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith won one of the most highly-anticipated events of the day in the women's 60m with a time of 7.05 seconds in the final. She edged compatriot Daryll Neita (second) and USA's Destiny Smith-Barnett (third) to top the podium. World 200m champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica finished in fourth place.
Asher-Smith set a national record of 7.03 seconds in the heats earlier in the day.
Saturday’s showpiece was the final meet in a seven-event gold tour series, with winners securing wildcard entries for the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Read on to find out all the major storylines and standings below.
Gourley and Hodgkinson set national records
The Birmingham crowd witnessed more national records being broken in the men's 1500m and women's 800m as Neil Gourley and World and Olympic 800m silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson stormed to victories.
Hodgkinson beat her own national record with a time of 1:57.18.
"I feel like I'm capable of faster than that but nevertheless I'm happy to come away with another British record," said the soon-to-be 21-year-old.
There was a surprise in the men's 1500m as Gourley finished in first and broke Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Josh Kerr's national record with a time of 3:32.48.
As expected, Olympic 1500m silver medallist Laura Muir won the 1000m final but fell short of the world record and her own national record.
There was also British success in the form of Charles Dobson, who took home the men's 60m crown with a time of 6.64.
Holloway and Tsegay star
In the men’s 60m hurdles, world record holder Grant Holloway was crowned champion as the USA star broke a meet record with a time of 7.35.
The 25-year-old edged his compatriot and current world no. 2 Daniel Roberts to finish on top of the podium.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay came agonisingly close to breaking the world record in the women’s 3000m. The reigning world 5000m champion and Olympic 5000m bronze medallist was just 0.09 seconds away from the world record with a time of 8:16.69.
Canada's Alysha Newman won the women's pole vault, clearing 4.78m to finish top of the standings. New Zealand's Hamish Kerr topped the men's high jump standings and USA's Marquis Dendy won the men's long jump final, flying 8.28m, however it was Sweden's Thobias Montler who would finish first in the overall standings.
Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards won the men's 400m with a time of 45.74, which saw him finish on top of the overall standings.