Amy Hunt retains 100m crown with win over Dina Asher-Smith at UK Championships

Amy Hunt held off a fierce challenge from Dina Asher-Smith to defend her 100 metres title at the UK Athletics Championships, delivering a performance that announced her as one of British sprinting’s most compelling figures heading into the summer’s major competitions.

A race that delivered on its billing

The showdown between Hunt and Asher-Smith had been the headline event of the weekend, and it didn’t disappoint. Hunt crossed the line first in a sharp display of front-running composure, with Asher-Smith pushing hard through the final 30 metres but unable to close the gap. It was the kind of domestic rivalry that British athletics has badly needed — two elite women, racing at full tilt, with a title genuinely on the line.

Hunt, 22, ran a personal best-level performance to secure the win. She’s been in brilliant form this season, and Saturday’s result confirmed that the 2023 crown was no fluke.

What it means for both athletes

For Hunt, retaining the national title does something important. It cements her place at the top of the British 100m rankings and strengthens her case for selection at major international meetings this summer. She’s no longer a rising talent. She’s the champion.

Asher-Smith, 28, will take different lessons from the day. Still one of the most decorated British sprinters of her generation, she has been working back to peak form after a period disrupted by injury. Finishing second at a national championships isn’t a disaster — not by any stretch — but she’ll know she needs another gear to compete at the very top of the global circuit.

A UK Athletics spokesperson said the result reflected the strength and depth currently running through the British women’s sprints programme, and that both athletes remain central to team selection planning ahead of this summer.

The bigger picture for British sprinting

It’s easy to get swept up in the head-to-head narrative, but Saturday’s final was also a reminder of how much talent exists beyond the two headline names. The field was competitive from lane one to lane eight, and several younger athletes ran personal bests in the heats and semi-finals.

British sprinting has had its share of difficult headlines over the years. But right now, at least in the women’s 100m, things look genuinely exciting.

What comes next

Both Hunt and Asher-Smith are expected to compete on the Diamond League circuit in the coming weeks, with the European Athletics Championships later in the summer representing a key target. Hunt will carry the national title into those events with confidence. Asher-Smith, knowing she’s not yet at her absolute best, will use them as preparation.

The rivalry between them is far from settled. If anything, Saturday felt like the beginning of something rather than a conclusion. And for British athletics fans, that’s the best possible outcome from a national championship weekend.