Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith sets world-leading time as she wins indoor 60m

Winning time of 7.08 seconds equalled her personal best and was 0.02 off the British record

Asher-Smith was 0.02 seconds off the British record (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith set a 60m world-leading time at the World Indoor Athletics Tour in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Racing at an international meet for the first time since 2019, her winning time of 7.08 seconds equalled her personal best.

It was also the first time in three years that Asher-Smith raced indoors as she aims to put a Covid-hit 2020 season behind her, having raced just three times last year.

The 25-year-old’s winning time was just 0.02 seconds off the British record held by Asha Philip, who herself finished fifth in Karlsruhe.

Asher-Smith’s return to international athletics echoed her last appearance, where she was crowned world 200m champion at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

The southwestern German city of Kalrsruhe also played host to another 2021 world-leading time from a British athlete as Elliot Giles won the men’s 800m in one minute and 45.50 seconds.

The 26-year-old, who won bronze at the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam, defeated French duo Benjamin Robert and Pierre-Ambroise Bosse to take the win.

Meanwhile, Sophia McKinna found success in the women’s shot-put as she broke her indoor personal best to finish third.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant also placed third in the women’s 3000m after an impressive finish, while Andy Butchart finished fourth in the men’s 3,000m.

The 29-year-old broke his own Scottish indoor record and set an indoor personal best time of seven minutes 40.85 seconds in the event.