Novuna Gb & Ni Progress In 400m Heats And Asher-smith Excited To Build After 100m Final
15th September 2025Dina Asher-Smith is excited to see what more she can do after finishing eighth in the world in a stacked 100m final.
Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley) clocked a time of 11.07s in a final that saw the USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden storm to a new championship record of 10.61s.
The sprinter had qualified for the last stand through one of the non-automatic qualifying spots in her semi-final, with Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) finishing ninth and Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers) tenth overall.
It marked a strong start to Asher-Smith’s championships and with the 200m and 4x100m relay still to come in Tokyo, Asher-Smith is ready to continue her form.
“I’m happy,” she said. “I would have loved for my times to be a bit shinier over the 100m but given the year that I’ve had and everything I’m so happy with just how I came into these championships. “Obviously, I want a lot more in the 200m. But I’m happy to have made a global final in what has been a very difficult year for me.
“I’m just excited for the next phase, the next year, because when you’ve got some more stability, you can make progress.”
In the men’s 100m semi-finals, Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet) narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
Hughes clocked 10.03s in his semi, a dead heat alongside Jerome Blake of Canada, but it was not enough to reach the final stage.
Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff) and Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon) also just missed out on progressing, clocking 10.05 and 10.09 respectively.
In the women’s 1500m semi-finals, Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreissigacker, Luton) clocked a time of 4:11.07 for ninth, also missing out on a place in the final.
Earlier in the session, all six of the Novuna GB&NI 400m runners qualified for the semi-finals.
Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) led the way in the women’s event, automatically qualifying with a strong run of 49.96s to finish second in her heat.
She will be joined in the semis on Tuesday by Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) and Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles) who both progressed through non-automatic qualifying spots.
Novuna GB & NI’s first athlete of the evening session, Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester) soared into the men’s 400m semi-finals with a time of 44.85, finishing third in his heat.
Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers) posted a time of 44.68s in his heat and will be back to compete in the semi final.
Meanwhile, Samuel Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley) saw an incredible start to his outdoor world championships debut campaign.
The 400m runner has faced three hamstring tears since January but made his first worlds at Tokyo 2025 and quickly reached the semi-finals with a run of 44.70s to clinch one of the six available non-automatic qualifying spots.
“It wasn’t too bad,” he said. “It’s been a tough year of injuries. I have been nursing a few things.
“I was hoping to get into the top three but was just out so I’m holding out to qualify.
“I am still in with a chance in the semis, and I can definitely go faster.”