Asha Philip was at her dominant best throughout the women's 60m event at the British Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham and she is looking to build on her gold medal-winning performance by following up with another medal at the World Championships in two weeks time.
The 27-year-old improved during each round on Saturday at Arena Birmingham as she qualified from her first heat with a time of 7.44 seconds before winning her semi-final in 7.19 and she then saved her best for the final as she won in 7.12 seconds, thus equalling her season's best time.
"I felt like I had a great winter and the indoor has started well so I just had to execute the race and confirm my place on the team for the World Indoor Championships," said Philip after the race. "It was the perfect preparation to compete on the same track as the championships.
"You can’t be complacent at these championships. It was about doing the job and qualifying. I still have so much to learn so every race is giving me new experiences. The times I am running are good – I opened the season with a 7.18, my fastest ever opener so it gave me a lot of confidence for every race."
Philip's time in the final was well within the required World Championship qualifying mark of 7.30 seconds and she can now look forward to representing Great Britain in the 60m at the Worlds, which will also be held at the Arena Birmingham from 1-4 March.
"It is a bit daunting competing here," admitted Philip. "The next time I’m in here, I’ll be racing at the World Indoors so that was in the back of my mind. It did build up a bit of tension but it was a the perfect rehearsal."
The British 60m record holder ran 7.06 seconds when winning gold at the 2017 European Indoor Championships in Belgrade last March and she is looking to produce something similiar in her quest for a successul World Championship.
"I will only accept a medal at the World Indoors. This is my time."
