Dina Asher Smith enjoyed an outstanding European Athletics Junior Championships at Rieti in Italy. Not only did the Blackheath & Bromley athlete win the 200 title, but, she was also part of the Great Britain quartet who won gold in 4x100 metres, breaking the British record in the semi final and then again in the final.

The Newstead Woods schoolgirl showed her intent by winning her heat of the 200 in a time of 23.14. This equalled her best for the event despite being into a -0.5 metre per second headwind.

The breeze was even stronger for the final as it hit -2.2 m/s but this did not stop Dina timing 23.29 to secure victory with fellow GB athlete Desiree Henry finishing second.

It was a proud moment for the 17 year old and also for her mum Julie and coach John Blackie who were there to watch.

“As a young athlete you always watch these people who come here and win gold and just think, I want to be like that. To be one of them is just out of this world and I’m so happy.”

She did not have much time to relax, however, as she was back at the track the next morning for the heats of the 4x100 relay. To the astonishment of many, Dina and her team mates Steffi Wilson, Yasmin Miller and Desiree Henry won their race in a new National record of 43.89.

Though delighted with this performance, the quartet needed to keep their feet on the ground and concentrate on the final. This they did with Dina picking up her second gold of the Championships as they again broke the National record lowering the mark to 43.81.

It was a remarkable few days for Dina and her wonder season will continue with a place in the GB Senior squad for the World Championships which take place in Moscow in three weeks time.

Dina’s introduction to Athletics at the Club came through the Bees Academy and another product of this scheme, and a training partner of Dina‘s, Cheriece Hylton, was also on winning International duty. She was first in the 300 metres at the SIAB Home Countries Schools International in Dublin by over half a second in a time of 38.10, her third quickest ever time.

She was also part of the 4x300 metre team who won in a new meeting record of 2.37.66 over two seconds quicker than the previous best set in 1997.

It was gold as well for Stefan Amokwandoh. He went to the meeting intent on achieving a personal best and succeeded in his quest. It is always a great feat to improve one’s best when wearing an International vest and he leapt 14.44 in the triple jump to win the competition by an impressive 80 centimetres.

Kerri Davidson was so close to making it a hat trick of victories for Club members. She had to settle for second place in the womens triple jump with a leap of 11.44 into a minus headwind. This left her just 4 centimetres shy of the winning distance by Ireland’s Maria Carey.

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