Gemili looks one to beat after setting fastest 200m times

Two weeks on from winning silver over half that distance at the Commonwealth Games, the 20-year-old former footballer looks well placed to add another medal to his collection.

Gemili laid down the gauntlet to his European rivals by following up yesterday morning’s fastest time in the heats by running quicker than anyone else in securing a place in today’s final.

The Londoner looked comfortable as he crossed the line in 20.23 seconds and well capable of going even quicker in search of a podium finish in Zurich.

Gemili will be the only British representative in the final after James Ellington missed out by less than a hundredth of a second. The 28-year-old finished fifth in the first semi-final in 20.52secs – the same time managed by Poland’s Karol Zalewski.

It meant the last fastest loser spot for the final went down to thousandths of a second, with Ellington eventually edged out.

Things were far more straightforward in the women’s 200m, with all three British sprinters stylishly securing automatic qualification to the final.

Bianca Williams, ranked third in Europe over the distance, followed favourite Dafne Schippers home in the second semi-final, before Commonwealth silver medallist Jodie Williams won her semi with ease.

The fastest of the trio was Dina Asher-Smith, whose wonderful day got even better in the first semi-final of the evening.

In the morning she had found out she got into King’s College, and the 18-year-old then clocked 22.61 – a new British junior record.