Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes were named as the Female and Male Athletes of the Year for 2018 at the British Athletics Writers Association awards at a luncheon at the Tower Hotel, London on Friday (November 23).

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland internationalists – both first-time winners of the sport’s oldest and most prestigious honour – each claimed gold medals in the 100 metres at August’s European Championships in Berlin amid excellent seasons.

British 100m and 200m record holder Asher-Smith, who finished ahead of 2017 winner Laura Muir and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in voting among the track and field media, was a triple champion at the Europeans, additionally taking victory in the 200 metres and the 4×100 relay while setting British records in both individual events in the German capital.

Additionally, she picked up a gold and bronze at April’s Commonwealth Games and was named European Athletics Athlete of the Year.

Now for more, she insisted, at next year’s world championships.

“The Americans and Jamaicans will be there,” said the 22 year-old. “The pressure of competition is making me work hard and train hard.

“Alongside my fantastic coach John, we’re trying to turn my weaknesses into strengths and my strengths into stronger strengths, so I can put myself in a better position over the next two years and for the rest of my career.”

Hughes, 23, added 4×100 relay gold to his 100m title in Berlin with his CV enhanced by a further relay crown at the Commonwealths. His 100m personal best of 9.91 seconds now ranks him second behind Linford Christie on the UK all-time list, and it earned him the BAWA prize ahead of six-time Male Athlete recipient Mo Farah with Nick Miller and Reece Prescod sharing third place.

Jake Norris, who won the hammer gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere and broke the UK under-20 record in 2018, was the recipient of the Junior Male Athlete of the Year prize. Heptathlete Niamh Emerson, who followed bronze at the Commonwealths with the World Under-20 crown, picked up the Junior Female Athlete of the Year.

Sophie Hahn, who took T38 100m, 200m and relay golds at the European para athletics championships in Berlin, and Kare Adenegan, who landed T34 100m gold and 800m silver at the same event at the age of 17, as well as earning victory in the Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon, were joint winners of the Female Para Athlete of the Year prize.

Thomas Young, just 18, secured the Male Para Athlete of the Year honour following two golds in Berlin, in the T38 100m and 200m.

The long-standing Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics was, fittingly, presented to one of the late commentator’s former BBC colleagues, Paul Dickenson. The two-time Olympian, 68, is coach to Norris and mentor to a large group of young throwers, doing a huge amount over four decades to nurture young talent in tandem with a long and distinguished broadcasting career.

This year’s BAWA Inspiration Award was presented to Anthony Whiteman, a silver medallist in the 1500 metres at the 1996 European Indoor Championships in Stockholm, and then twice an Olympian, who continues to produce remarkable performances in the masters ranks.

RELATED: Anthony Whiteman: the end of an era

Now 47, he reached his last British Championship final just three years ago but his masters accomplishments now include world bests and a world title in 2015.

In tandem with the main BAWA awards, a number of annual prizes from the British Milers Club were also presented including Male and Female Athlete of the Year prizes for Jake Wightman and Laura Muir, and a Coach of the Year for Geoff Wightman.

British Athletics Writers Association Awards winners

John Rodda Award for Male Athlete of the Year (sponsored by Glasgow 2019 European Indoor Championships): Zharnel Hughes
Cliff Temple Award for Female Athlete (sponsored by London Marathon Events): Dina Asher-Smith

Jim Coote Memorial Award for Junior Male: Jake Norris
Lilian Board Memorial Award for Junior Female: Niamh Emerson

Male Para Athlete: Thomas Young
Female Para Athlete: Sophie Hahn & Kare Adenegan (joint)

Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics: Paul Dickenson
BAWA’s Inspiration Award: Anthony Whiteman

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The post Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes win BAWA athletes of the year awards appeared first on Fast Running.

The first British woman to win European 100m gold since Dorothy Hyman’s victory some 56 years ago at 1962’s championships in Belgrade, Asher-Smith lived up to her billing as the favourite in emphatic style with a show-stopping performance.

The signs had been in place from earlier on in the evening as the 22-year-old clocked a world-class 10.93 while easing down in her semi-final, though what was to come was extraordinary nonetheless.

Bolting out of the blocks, Asher-Smith put ground between herself and the rest of the field almost immediately, with the gap only increasing as torsos came upright and heads began to eye the finish line.

Streaking clear, Asher-Smith secured gold with a dip, with the clock flashing 10.85 to reveal yet another revision of her own British record, this time by some seven hundredths of a second following her 10.92 posting earlier this summer in Oslo.

In a 10.85 British record and world leading time, Asher-Smith looked delighted to win the European title. “I went out there and executed my race,” said the speedster. “Sprinters say the word ‘execute’ so often it becomes  boring but I was just so happy that I went out there and ran the race that I knew I was capable of.”

“I told myself ‘You’re here to win, I am not taking any less’. That’s what I am here for and I am so happy to have done it. 10.85!”

In sixth place was Imani-Lara Lansiquot and the 20 year-old, who has been sharing her journey this year on Fast Running, was very impressive in her first major championships.

“I am very, very happy,” he said. “This is my first time on the senior stage and that is my second fastest time ever. It would have been lovely to have left with a medal and a personal best but I am only 20. I am learning my craft and getting better and better with each race. I am a little bit disappointed now, but I am incredibly proud of myself.

“This time last year I think I had finished my season and run 11.7, now have put together consecutive 11.1s. I’m just very grateful to be in one piece and to be a European finalist, not many people can say that, and to be better than I have ever been before. I have to take that.”

British 1-2 in the men’s 100m

Photo: Getty Images

Zharnel Hughes led a British 1-2 with Reece Prescod grabbing silver. With both athletes under 10 seconds with 9.95 and 9.96 respectively it was a great night for British sprinting. CJ Ujah was just outside the medals in fourth with 10.06.

Hughes is already looking to the future and said “That’s the high point definitely, it sets me up nicely going in to the world championship, next year, so I just need to focus and continue putting in the work and trust and believe in my team and myself and leave the rest to God.”

Pressed ran a U23 National record with his 9.96 and the future looks bright for the young star. “To be honest I can’t really complain. It was a personal best and the first time dipping under ten seconds legally. I am really happy about that. It was a national under-23 record as well and I am happy to come out and get my first sub ten clocking”

Men’s 10,000m

One of many other events with triple British interest, the men’s 10,000m took place in punishingly hot conditions inside the well-populated Olympiastadion. Featuring the experienced Andy Vernon and Chris Thompson alongside Alex Yee, the sweltering conditions made for a tough race from the off.

Led out by Juan Perez (ESP) with the enthusiastic Kaan Kigen Ozbillen (TUR) on his heels, the British trio kept in touch with the lead pack in the early stages, with Yee doing the early lead running of the Brits as the field trotted through 3000m at 8:30 pace.

Halfway was reached with Ozbillen to the fore and always looking to push proceedings on, with the British trio continuing to hang on to the well-established lead pack of thirteen as Vernon began to show his experience and move through, beyond Yee and Thompson, as the latter pair’s legs began to feel the effects of the heat.

Looking strong having recently travelled in from an altitude camp out in St Moritz, Vernon maintained form as he moved into seventh then sixth, as the field came round with two laps to go and the toss-up for medals really began.

Kicking too early, temporary race leader Adel Mechaal (ESP) paid the price as he was overtaken and pushed back to fourth come the finish line, with the conclusion of the race boiling down to a scintillating final 800m in which Frenchman Morhad Amdouni moved out to lane three to power home to gold. Chasing all the way, Vernon finished a brilliant fifth, clocking 29:16.90, with compatriots Thompson and Yee finishing 11th and 14th in 28:33.12 and 28:58.86 respectively.

On his finishing position and the race, Vernon said: “I’m a bit disappointed. It was that last couple of laps, it was just like my legs weren’t quite wanting to give me it, they were ‘numb’ is the way I’d describe them, I just didn’t have that in the last two.

“And it didn’t seem like it was that quick, if I was there I think I could have been amongst it, I just had to be there and I wasn’t. I’m disappointed in myself that I wasn’t. It was just frustrating

“It terms of tactics until the last 800m I nailed it. 10,000m is about running to rhythm and getting to the last 1k or maybe 2k having conserved as much energy as possible.”

The post GB storm to double sprint gold in Berlin appeared first on Fast Running.

Wightman, who was fourth in the 800m earlier in the week, made history as he became the first Scottish man in 40 years to win a medal in the 1500m at the Commonwealths Games.

The 23-year-old ran a superb race and made the decisive move in the final lap passing Kenya’s Kumari Taki down the home straight to run 3:35.97 and clinch the bronze.

Kenya’s world champion Elijah Manangoi clocked 3:34.78 to clinch gold after pulling away on the last lap from world silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot, also of Kenya, who ran 3:35.17.

Charlie Grice of England was fourth in 3:37.43 as Scotland’s Chris O’Hare took eighth in 3:39.04.

Wightman said: “I’m delighted and it just caps off a really good week for me out here. I hear it is a slice of athletics history in Scotland with 40 years since a 1500m medal in the Commonwealths. That’s great to hear and means a lot.”

Before the men’s 1500m final, England’s Weightman clinched a fantastic bronze in the women’s 5000m final. It was the 2014 Commonwealth 1500m silver medalist’s first championship race over the distance.

A report can be found here, which also includes the performances other home nations athletes competing.

Double relay gold for England

In the men’s 4x100m relay, England held off fast finishes from the silver and bronze medallists, South Africa and Jamaica respectively, to clock 38.13, which is just 0.11 seconds slower than the best ever by a quartet representing England.

Reuben Arthur handed on Zharnel Hughes, who gained some consolation for being disqualified after appearing to win the 200m.

Former world indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty passed the baton over to the experienced Harry Aikines-Aryeetey on the final two legs as the English sustained attacks from South Africa’s 100m winner Akani Simbine and Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, who came past Australia. South Africa ran a national record 38.24 and Jamaica’s time was 38.35.

I was really gonna write a witty and elaborate tweet (like I do), but my brain still has to catch up with the last 3 weeks.

…it’s all mad. #GC2018 #StayReady #BatonBoy pic.twitter.com/UO3ht6c0Di

— reuce da 5’6 (@ReubenArthur) April 14, 2018

In the women’s sprint relay, Asha Philip, 200m bronze medallist Dina Asher-Smith, Bianca Williams and long jumper Lorraine Ugen combined to stop the clock on an English record 42.46. Jamaica finished quickly via Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson, running 42.52, while Nigeria clocked 42.75.

“I did my first changeovers earlier today. But it went pretty well,” said Ugen, a surprise selection from the anchor leg who clocked a 100m PB of 11.37 earlier this year. “I knew if I was going to get called up that I’d only accept it if I knew I could do a good job.

“The girls gave me a really big lead so all I had to do was hold it. All I was thinking was ‘keep running, keep running’. I don’t think I’ve done a relay since university.”

Asher-Smith, who won individual 200m bronze earlier in the week, added: “It shows how strong we are though, with minimal practice as a team to go out there and win a gold medal – thank you very much to the team.

“We knew Lorraine was a very good sprinter. She’s got a strong background in it and we knew she could changeover well.

The English quartet were fourth in the women’s 4x400m behind winners Jamaica, who stopped the clock on 3:24.00. Nigeria were second in 3:25.29, while Botswana set a national record in third with 3:26.86, with Scotland finishing sixth.

England, through Anyika Onuora, Finette Agyapong and Perri Shakes-Drayton, led Botswana into the final changeover, but a 49.59 split from individual 400m winner Amantle Montsho eventually put them in front by 0.35 seconds.

Botswana won a tight final race on the track as individual winner Isaac Makwala brought them home in the men’s 4x400m in 3:01.78. Bahamas was second in 3:01.92 and Jamaica third in 3:01.97.

The post Medal success for home nations on the Gold Coast appeared first on Fast Running.

Hughes was thankfully unharmed after the attempted robbery at his car at the University of the West Indies, Usain Bolt Track.

The 22-year-old, who competed at the World Championships in London, told the Jamaica Gleaner. “I was putting on my sneakers at my trunk and this guy just came up pointing a gun in my face, he asked me for my phone and I ran off and the guy opened fire.”

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, a licensed firearm holder was at the scene and returned fire and no one was injured.

The incident was reported to the local Mona police.

Shortly afterwards, Hughes himself commented on Twitter: “Lost for words, but thankfully I’m okay. Today would be a day I definitely won’t forget. #ThankYouGod”

Lost for words, but thankfully I’m okay. Today would be a day I definitely won’t forget. #ThankYouGod

— Zharnel Hughes (@zharnel_hughes) January 24, 2018

Hughes was born and grew up in the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, and he has competed internationally for Britain since 2015.

At the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, the sprinter finished fifth in the 200m.

The post Britain’s Zharnel Hughes victim of attempted armed robbery appeared first on Fast Running.