Dasaolu sets his sights on Britain’s 1999 relay record

Britain’s current fastest man James Dasaolu has set his sights on breaking the British record in the 4x100m relay at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow, writes Matt Majendie.

Dasaolu’s time of 9.91 seconds for the 100m two weekends ago at the World Championship trials was just four-tenths-of-a-second shy of Linford Christie’s British record.

But while the Briton has set his sights on breaking that mark in due course, his more immediate concern is the national record in the relay.

The current mark of 37.73seconds by Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Dwain Chambers has stood since 1999.

Chambers is the one survivor of that quartet and will be part of the line-up tomorrow, with Dasaolu running the anchor leg, potentially against Usain Bolt.

“We’re going to get the baton round — that’s the idea,” said Dasaolu. “We want to run a quick time and we’re eyeing up secretly maybe a British record in the run-up to Moscow. We’re a new-look team and we can’t wait to get out there.”

First up for Dasaolu tonight is the challenge of taking on Bolt, the pair lining up side-by-side, the Briton in lane four to the Jamaican’s five.

Rating his chances, Dasaolu said: “I know it’s going to be a tough race against the quickest man in history and a six-time Olympic gold medallist. I’m just going to give it my best and enjoy competing in front of a home crowd.

“He’s the quickest man to ever live so it’s going to be hard to follow in his footsteps. I’d like to believe I can step up in this field.”