British 100m sprinter Adam Gemili runs under 10 seconds for first time
Last Updated: 07/06/15 6:49pm
Adam Gemili ran under 10 seconds for the first time in his career as he finished second in the men's 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham.
Gemili came home in 9.97secs to become only the sixth Briton to go sub-10 seconds, despite falling to the ground as he crossed the finish line with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Marvin Bracey won the race in 9.93, a personal best time for the American athlete.
"I felt my hamstring go as I dipped but I'm in good spirits. I can't make a comment on the injury yet," Gemili said.
"Not the fairy-tale ending I wanted, but I'm proud to be the only Brit to go sub-10 and sub-20. British sprinting is really stepping up and I'm glad to be a part of it."
The withdrawals of Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill from the event at the Alexander Stadium meant Greg Rutherford was the only British gold medal winner from the London Olympics 'Super Saturday' left on the bill.
But he did not disappoint the fans, claiming victory in the long jump with a best of 8.35m.
"When you're only three weeks post-injury, you're never sure where your body is," said Rutherford.
"It's the longest I've ever jumped in Britain and the second longest in my career. I'm so pleased I put on a decent show today."
Elsewhere, Dina Asher-Smith recorded a personal best of 22.30secs in the women’s 200m but still had to settle for third place in a race that required a photo finish to decide the first three placings.
Asher-Smith, 19, has been in fine form this season, having become the fastest British female sprinter two weeks ago when she ran 11.02secs for the 100m at a meeting in the Netherlands on May 24.
Pre-race favourite Allyson Felix was second in Birmingham after being pipped by American compatriot Jeneba Tarmoh, with Asher-Smith, who had been prominent throughout the race, a whisker behind in third as the trio flashed across the line locked together.
Asher-Smith said: "My coach said the key to this race is maintaining your form and staying upright, so it is kind of annoying.
"But I was thinking maybe I could get somewhere near my PB, so I'm really, really happy."
Glasgow University student Laura Muir ran a personal best of 2:00.42 finishing second in the women's 800m behind Kenya's Eunice Sum.
Muir said: "I didn't really know how the legs would fare today after racing in Rome but I was really pleased with my performance out there. I knew I was in PB shape and to do it on tired legs is a bonus."
