World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith says is really excited about racing at Friday night’s Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe and revealed that she will be targeting a fast time in the women’s 60m dash. Asher-Smith will make her first appearance indoors since 2018.
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After a limited appearance last season due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Britain sprint star is slated to race overseas for the first time since enjoying a very fruitful World Championships in Qatar in 2019 and she admits to being “unbelievably excited” about getting back on the track and doing what she loves.
“I’m honestly so excited to race,” Asher-Smith was quoted as saying via worldathletics.org on Thursday during a virtual press conference ahead of the Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe. “I’ve done three home meets in the last year. Which was something not any of us were expecting.
“But my last overseas race was at the (2019) World Championships in Qatar so I am unbelievably excited to get out there – honestly, not just to do my job, but do what I’m passionate about.”
Asher-Smith enters Friday’s race with a personal best of 7.08 seconds set in 2015 in Praha and achieved again at the World Indoor Tour meeting in Glasgow in February 2018.
The 25-year-old isn’t promising anything, but is hoping for something quick.
“I haven’t done the 60 meters since 2018, because mainly I’ve trained through (the indoor season) and tried to stay focused on the outdoor season,” she added.
“I’m honestly really excited to give it a genuine attack this year. I have absolutely no idea what I can do. It’s been a very long time since I’ve done, in earnest, a 60 meters. I am really excited about going out there and trying to run one quickly.”
“It will be a really, really good race,” she continued. “I’m super excited to get out and compete against some of the other fastest women in the world. And to hopefully put into practice what I’ve been working so hard at for the past year and a bit.”
In Karlsruhe, Asher-Smith will take on fellow countrywoman Asha Philip, who has a personal best of 7.06 secs and Swiss sprinter Ajla Del Ponte, who owns a personal best of 7.17.
Lisa Mayer of Germany, France’s Orlann Ombissa-Dzangue, and Jamile Samuel of the Netherlands are also among the starters.
