British Athletics have named a squad of 72 athletes for the 2019 IAAF World Championships, which get under way in Doha, Qatar later this week.
For the second major championships in a row there are more women selected than men. Two years ago, in London, Team GB managed a total of six medals and finished sixth in the medal table.
Mo Farah contributed two with gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m. The 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams elevated the British team up the table in the final two days of competition, winning a gold, two silvers and a bronze. A golden period for British athletics has come to an end but there are two GB athletes with genuine prospects of gold in Doha, though both will need to be at their very best to take their place at the top of the podium.
Dina Asher-Smith, who is based at the Blackheath & Bromley club, has had a fantastic 12 months. She was a triple European champion in 2018 and was IAAF Diamond League runner-up this year over 200m. The 23-year-old is the only British sub-22 second 200m runner in history and the latter is her preferred distance. However, she is no slouch over 100m and the national record holder. Only a best 11/4 to win the 100m in Doha, Asher-Smith is only a best 3/4 with 888sport to win the 200m.
She destroyed world and Olympic champion Elaine Thompson in Stockholm in the spring and and also beat Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce when second to Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Birmingham. The Bahamian is concentrating on the 400m in Doha which looks to have left the door open for Asher-Smith to claim her first world title.
Women’s 200m World Athletics Championships Current Best Odds
Dina Asher-Smith 3/4
Elaine Thompson 2/1
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 7/1
Blessing Okagbare and Salwa Eid Naser 20/1
Dafne Schippers 22/1
Marie-Josee Ta Lou 40/1
Angie Annelus, Mujinga Kambundji and Dezerea Bryant 50/1
Brittany Brown 80/1
Ivet Lalova-Collio 100/1
(Odds correct at 12.30pm September 25)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who is attached to Liverpool Harriers, is Team GB’s other big hope for gold in the Women’s Heptahlon.
The 26-year-old was expected to emulate the achievements of compatriot and former world and Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill after finishing fifth at the 2013 World Championships but has still to deliver on that promise.
She is the Commonwealth champion but will have to better the points tally of Belgium’s world and Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam, who beat her to the European title in 2018. Thiam is the 4/9 favourite with William Hill.
Paula Muir, fourth in London two years ago, is the European champion at 1500m and, while gold may be beyond the Scot, has a fine chance of a podium finish in the metric mile. She has had top-three finishes in all five of the Diamond League races this year and has the third-fastest time of those entered at Doha. However, she hasn’t raced since July because of a calf problem so her fitness will have to be taken on trust.
It would take a career-best and a huge slice of fortune for any of the men’s team to medal in their individual events but the 4x100m relay team are 7/2 with 888sport behind the USA (1/4) and don’t have to worry about Usain Bolt in the Jamaica (13/2) team this year.
