ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Spain had sliced an 18-point lead to eight with four minutes remaining as Gregg Popovich watched to see how his young Team USA would respond.

Joe Harris buried a 3, Mason Plumlee stole the ball off a Ricky Rubio pass, Derrick White made a floater, and then a Kemba Walker steal led to a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer to end any threat by Spain. In its first exhibition tune-up before the FIBA World Cup, Team USA led by as many as 18 before holding off Spain late for a 90-81 win at Honda Center.

After the first two weeks of camp, USA Basketball heads to Australia on Saturday with 14 players on the roster after P.J. Tucker withdrew on Friday with a minor left ankle sprain.

Popovich will make final roster cuts to 12 later, as Team USA will play its final two exhibition games against Australia in Melbourne before facing Canada in Sydney ahead of next month's FIBA World Cup in Shanghai.

The remaining USA Basketball players are eager to prove that they all belong and are worthy after a summer that saw several of the biggest U.S. stars decide to skip the World Cup to prepare for the NBA season.

Regarding the chatter of just how good this team can be, USA forward Harrison Barnes told The Undefeated's Marc Spears, "We hear the noise. It's just about the 14 guys that we got here right now, and when we go to Australia, it's about just us, getting better, continuing to grow closer on and off the floor, and we'll go from there."

Barnes added that the team is "motivated more than anything to keep the gold standard going, by the teams that went before us, that went and won the World Cup, that went and won the Olympics multiple times. That's what we're chasing right now."

Donovan Mitchell appears poised to play a big role. He led Team USA in scoring with 13 points and four rebounds Friday. Walker had 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Khris Middleton added 12 points. Against the likes of NBA players such as Marc Gasol (19 points) and Rubio (16 points, seven assists), the Americans watched Spain make 12 of 25 3-pointers but held their opponents to 40.8% shooting overall and out-rebounded them 42-20.

"A good chance to jump into the fray and see what this is all about it," Popovich said to sum up the team's first exhibition against another country. "It was like a baptism for us. A new group, players, coaches, all those sort of things. It was a real experience."

Team USA made 11 of 19 3-pointers, but Popovich was most impressed by the defensive effort. The Americans led by 13 at the break after holding Spain to 14-of-35 shooting in the first half.

"I think that we can be elite defensively," said Kyle Kuzma. "I think that is one thing we can show that people will see more in China."

Kuzma had seven points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.

It remains to be seen whom Popovich will decide to keep on the final roster for China, but the team believes its chemistry is beginning to form.

"I'm excited about everybody coming," Mitchell said. "The biggest thing for us is just jelling on and off the floor. That's going to help us. These [other international] teams have played with each other since about 12, 13 years old. So for us, we've got to be able to match their chemistry. And I think the only way to do that is to be around each other as much as possible."

Newly released evidence in the federal government's criminal case against attorney Michael Avenatti suggests employees at Nike were paying high-profile college basketball prospects' handlers and families tens of thousands of dollars in under-the-table payments.

In an email on July 30, 2016, Carlton DeBose -- the director of Nike's EYBL grassroots basketball division -- wrote that bidding for top players reached as much as $100,000.

In the email to Nico Harrison, the company's vice president of North American basketball operations, DeBose suggested Nike was still at a disadvantage against competitors such as Adidas and Under Armour in efforts to secure top prospects.

"It has always been a thankless journey but we are now sitting ducks because our competition and enemies have decided to no longer fight us on our turf but go where we rightfully refuse to go for all of the right reasons," DeBose wrote, according to emails and text messages that were filed Friday at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. "We have a code. Our enemies don't."

"We are viewed as having too much influence," DeBose continued. "The perception and resulting reality is that we dictate where players go to school. In addition, it is known that we make it hard for agents and runners to attend our events and will escort them off the premises. The same agents and runners are given free reign (sic) at [Adidas] and UA events and reps for both companies frequently broker meetings and deals for families/agents."

In a text message exchange on July 6, 2017, with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky -- identified with only the initials KP in records submitted as exhibits in the federal criminal case -- DeBose wrote that he provided money to about 10 Nike EYBL coaches "who are helping families to the total of about 200K annually."

Kentucky has an assistant coach named Kenny Payne. Neither Payne nor Wildcats coach John Calipari could be reached Friday night for comment.

"Do you help people like [an EYBL coach] and [unidentified coach] every year and how many people asked you to help them," the UK coach asked in a text message. "They both are happy u are helping them how many more are their (sic)."

"Those two," DeBose wrote. "And about 10 other brothers. ... about 10 coaches who are helping families to the total of about 200K annually and I still have to meet budget."

"You're the only one that knows about it [because] so many of these dudes are selfish and would want more [because] they would argue that someone else doesn't deserve the help more than they do," DeBose continued. "It's a stressful balancing act."

In an earlier email exchange between DeBose and Mel McDonald, a California-based basketball trainer who worked with Arizona's Deandre Ayton and Oregon's Bol Bol, McDonald outlined payments that were to be made to the handlers and family of an unnamed player.

Sources told ESPN the player was Ayton, who played one season at Arizona in 2017-18 before turning pro. He was the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.

The alleged payments to people associated with Ayton total about $65,000, according to the email, and included payments to an immigration attorney and $3,500 "for Bahamas to dad." Ayton grew up in the Bahamas before moving to the U.S. in high school.

The exhibits filed Friday also included emails and text messages that alleged a Nike employee approved at least under-the-table payments to former Duke star Zion Williamson and ex-Indiana star Romeo Langford when they were still in high school in February 2017. The alleged offers were $35,000 or more for Williamson and $20,000 for Langford.

There is no evidence the offers or payments were made to Williamson, Langford or their families. Williamson played one season at Duke and was the No. 1 pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in this year's NBA draft. Langford also was one-and-done at Indiana and was the No. 14 pick by the Boston Celtics.

In an email on April 18, 2017, an EYBL coach expressed concern to Nike officials about the rampant payouts to players.

"The 'secrets' of players and/or their families 'getting paid' are no longer secrets and quite frankly are spoken about rather openly," the unnamed EYBL coach wrote. "I can't see how this ends well for Nike or the EYBL. Some of us will be deemed guilty by association others will be found guilty of failure to supervise [think Rick Pitino]."

"Nike will not respond to the allegations of an individual facing federal charges of fraud and extortion," Nike said in a statement earlier this week. "Nike will continue its cooperation with the government's investigation into grassroots basketball and the related extortion case."

Avenatti was arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in March with attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to expose the shoe company's alleged improper payments to high-profile players in the EYBL.

Avenatti has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers on Wednesday asked a federal judge to dismiss the charges on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

In a surprising move, Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox has withdrawn from Team USA, managing director Jerry Colangelo told ESPN on Saturday.

The decision comes just hours before the group was scheduled to fly to Australia for exhibition games leading up to the FIBA World Cup in China.

Fox played a team-low six minutes in Friday night's exhibition victory over Spain in Anaheim, California. He was a strong candidate to make the roster because he'd played so well over the past two weeks in practices and scrimmages.

"He makes fast people look not fast," Marcus Smart said of Fox's ability earlier this week.

Fox had been moved up from the Select Team during training camp and appeared to have solidified his role as a backup to starter Kemba Walker.

During USA Basketball's 97-78 exhibition win over the select team on Aug. 6, Fox scored 12 points and had three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in 15 minutes. He also made 6 of 9 shots, but Fox said Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich got on him for passing up shots.

His decision will likely mean Derrick White, who plays for Popovich's San Antonio Spurs, will make the final roster as the team is now carrying just 13 players as it goes overseas.

Twelve will make the team.

"When you cut people from your regular NBA team, it's difficult,'' Popovich said earlier this week about making the final cut. "We're going to have to do that. And it's going to be even more so. I'm dreading having to do that. But it's got to get done.''

There have been more than 50 NBA players linked to this World Cup team at some point in the last year or so, most of them dropping out of consideration on their own, citing schedule demands. A few others left the team due to injuries or injury concerns.

Only two players -- the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo and the Chicago Bulls' Thaddeus Young -- have actually been cut by Team USA.

"It just means that guys are doing their jobs,'' the Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton said after Friday's game. "We're making it as tough as it can be on them. I think guys have been great all camp, just being positive, bringing energy and playing as hard as they can, giving their body up for everybody else. So that's a huge thing for everybody.

"From top to bottom, everybody is hungry and wants to prove something -- that we can get this job done."

Fox's departure come one day after Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker left Team USA, citing a minor left ankle issue.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton said he had forgotten how the grass looked and smelled at the home of the Texas Rangers. He hadn't been there since he played in the AL Division Series four years ago.

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP the season the Rangers went to their first World Series, was back for the first time on Saturday for his induction into the team's hall of fame.

"That was fun," the five-time All-Star said after the team showed a video filled with highlights of his five-plus seasons in Texas, including big home runs and incredible catches in the outfield.

The slugger's story is well-documented, from being the first overall pick out of high school in the 1999 amateur draft by Tampa Bay to the drug and alcohol addictions that nearly destroyed his career. He was out of baseball for three-and-a-half years before his comeback. He made his big league debut with Cincinnati in 2007 before being traded to the Rangers after that season.

"Looking back reminds me of God's grace and his mercy," Hamilton said, sharing his Christian faith during his induction speech. "Some people will say that I'm a hypocrite, or they have said it. I simply say I'm human. Y'all know my story. You can't look at that and tell me that you think I did that all on my own or with just willpower. It didn't happen. That much willpower doesn't exist in the world."

Hamilton thanked a long list of people, including his parents and three daughters, who were with him on the field. The 38-year-old fondly talked about the Rangers organization, including former coaches and teammates. General manager Jon Daniels, who traded top pitching prospect Edinson Volquez to the Reds for Hamilton, was there to unveil the player's plaque.

The highlights included clips from his awe-inspiring display in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in 2008, when he led the American League with 130 RBIs while hitting .304 with 32 homers in his first full season. He hit four homers in the 2010 AL Championship Series and had a four-homer game at Baltimore in 2012.

Former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, who during his time in office from 1987 to '97 played a major role in getting the team a new stadium and keeping the Rangers in Arlington, was also inducted into the Rangers' hall.

Hamilton hit .302 with 150 homers and 531 RBIs in 697 games with Texas. In his eight big league seasons, he hit .290 with 200 homers and 701 RBIs in 1,027 games.

He left the Rangers in free agency after the 2012 season for a $125 million, five-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He was recovering from shoulder surgery when the Angels traded him back to Texas in 2015 after two injury-plagued seasons in Los Angeles. After 50 games in 2015, he had surgery on his left knee at least three times and never played again, even after going to spring training two more times.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who was in the visiting dugout Saturday, was the first-round draft pick by Tampa Bay the year after Hamilton, and they came up in the Rays organization together.

"I grew up with him in the game and had a chance to watch him. He's the single most talented baseball player I've ever been around," Baldelli said. "If you drew up, like, a prototype kind of superhero-type baseball player, like, that's what he was. He was a well above average runner. He had great instincts in the field. He had the best arm in baseball."

With the induction of the former slugger and past mayor, there are 22 people in the Rangers' hall. Hamilton and Greene were the first inductees in three years since Michael Young, whose No. 10 jersey will be retired by the team in two weeks.

There are 21 home games left at the current Globe Life Park in Arlington, which is in its 26th season. A new stadium with a retractable roof is nearly three-quarters complete across the street and will open for the 2020 season.

"It just adds significantly to the opportunity," Greene, who supports the new stadium, said of being inducted in the stadium he helped build. "This is certainly a bittersweet season for us that love this place and have spent 25 years here."

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Mike Brosseau came through in the 13th inning to finish a long night and end an extended scoring drought by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Brosseau's pinch-hit RBI single in the 13th drove in Eric Sogard to give the Rays a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday in a game in which the Rays struck out 24 batters without walking any.

Sogard doubled off Matt Hall (0-1) with two outs, and Tommy Pham was intentionally walked. Brosseau, batting for pitcher Colin Poche, singled to right-center field for the Rays' first run since Wednesday, ending a streak of 29 scoreless innings.

"Obviously a long game, right? So you want to be the one to end it in that situation," Broussard said after his first walk-off hit.

Six Tampa Bay pitchers combined to set a major league record for strikeouts without a walk, and the game set a franchise record for the Tigers, who have struck out 37 times in the first two games of the three-game series without a base on balls.

"I know we struck out as many times as I've ever seen in a baseball game," Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said. "A lot of outs were being made, and that's probably because the pitching was pretty good on both sides."

Sogard's double off the wall was the only hit that came close to a home run on a night when plenty of hitters were trying to hit one.

"I think in those situations, everybody wants to hit the game winner," Gardenhire said. "When you start swinging hard and out of the [strike] zone trying to do those things, it really works against you. Both teams kind of got involved in that a little bit."

Rays relievers struck out 14 in 20 hitless at bats. Six Tigers hitters struck out at least three times.

"[Rays starter Ryan] Yarbrough set the tone from pitch one," said reliever Emilio Pagan, who struck out four in two innings. "We were in a lot of plus counts, and we were able to execute when we were ahead. That was a special game for sure."

Poche (3-4) got the win after striking out two of the three Tigers he faced in the 13th.

The win kept the Rays a half-game ahead of the Oakland Athletics for the American League's second wild-card spot.

Detroit's final hit was Niko Goodrum's one-out double in the seventh off Yarbrough. The next eight Tigers struck out against three different relievers.

Yarbrough, who came one out short of pitching the Rays' first complete game in three years on Sunday, is 6-0 with a 1.43 ERA over 56 2/3 innings in his past 11 appearances. He gave up three hits while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings.

Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed only one baserunner -- on Tommy Pham's double -- in five innings, throwing 63 pitches and striking out five.

ANDERSON'S K's

Since allowing a double to Boston's Andrew Benintendi, the first batter he faced as a Ray, Nick Anderson has retired 21 straight, 17 by strikeout. He struck out the side in the eighth inning Saturday. Anderson was acquired in a trade from Miami on July 31.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: C Grayson Greiner (lower back strain) moved from Class A Lakeland to Triple-A Toledo for the final step of his rehab process.

Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe, out since July 3 with a bruised right shin bone, will play with Class A Charlotte through Sunday, at which time it will be determined if he will join Triple-A Durham. "It will be depended on if everybody feels he's moving well," manager Kevin Cash said. "If not, we'll just keep him at Charlotte."

UP NEXT

Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (6-9) will pitch Sunday's series finale. He has given up 11 earned runs over eight innings in his past two starts.

Rays: RHP Trevor Richards was added to the taxi squad from Triple-A Durham and will start Sunday. Acquired from Miami on July 31, Richards went 3-12 in 23 games for the Marlins. The Rays optioned RHP Pete Fairbanks to open a roster spot for Richards.

BOSTON -- Red Sox ace left-hander Chris Sale was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with left elbow inflammation, raising questions about whether he will pitch again this season.

Team president Dave Dombrowski said Sale had an MRI, and the team's doctors said the results showed inflammation.

"There's going to be further evaluations,'' Dombrowski said before Boston's 4-0 win over the Orioles on Saturday. "We're in a situation where I don't know where it's really going to take us at this point.''

Asked if Sale would return to the mound this year, Dombrowski said, "I don't know one way or another at this point.''

Dombrowski said Sale felt stiffness after his start Tuesday in Cleveland and didn't tell the team until Friday, when he was sent for the test. In addition to the team's doctors, Dombrowski said, Sale will have the results looked at by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, but probably not until Monday. Dombrowski wasn't certain if Sale would visit Andrews.

"You always want to have second opinions. We're all on the same page,'' Dombrowski said. "I don't know if he's going to see him or he's going to look at the information.''

Before the season started, Sale signed a $160 million, six-year contract that includes $50 million in deferred money not due to be paid until 15 years after it is earned.

"I'm concerned about it, contract or no contract, whenever a pitcher has an elbow [injury],'' Dombrowski said.

The Red Sox said Sale was not available for comment.

"I think he's upset that he's going on the injured list,'' Dombrowski said.

Struggling through a mediocre season, Sale is 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA, but he was coming off two solid starts in which he combined for 25 strikeouts -- including the 2,000th of his career -- and allowed three runs in 14 2/3 innings.

Sale is the fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 Ks in major league history.

"There's no question this happened Tuesday,'' Dombrowski said. "You read the MRI and can tell where the inflammation is. They can identify it. This is not something that has been bothering him all season.''

Last season, Sale dealt with shoulder soreness after the All-Star break, and it limited him to 29 innings. He was limited in the postseason but closed out the World Series, striking out then-Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Manny Machado to clinch Boston's fourth title in 15 seasons.

The Red Sox find themselves without their ace during a pivotal point in their season. The defending World Series champions are 17 games back from the Yankees in the AL East and 6.5 games back in the wild card.

"It's always tough, but we've got to keep going,'' manager Alex Cora said. "We'll find out more in the upcoming days. As of now, somebody's got to step up. That's the way it works in this business.''

To fill Sale's spot on the roster, the club recalled right-hander Ryan Brasier from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias has been suspended 20 games under Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, the league announced Saturday.

Urias has said he will not appeal. He has already served five games of the suspension while on administrative leave from May 14 to 21, leaving 15 games remaining to be served.

Urias, 23, was arrested May 13 after an altercation with a woman in a parking lot of a Los Angeles shopping mall. The Los Angeles city attorney's office announced in June that it would not file charges against Urias as long as he participates in a 52-week domestic counseling program and commits no acts of violence for the next year.

The city attorney said it was deferring prosecution because Urias has no record of criminal behavior and the incident did not result in any physical injury, nor did the woman involved in the altercation indicate to police officers or witnesses that she believed she was a victim.

Urias, in a statement issued through the MLBPA on Saturday, said he's been "fully cooperating" with law enforcement officials and the MLB since May and that he accepts "full responsibility for what I believe was my inappropriate conduct during the incident."

"Even in this instance where there was no injury or history of violence, I understand and agree that Major League players should be held to a higher standard," Urias continued in his statement. "I hold myself to a higher standard as well. I have taken proactive steps to help me grow as a person on and off the field, and in my relationships."

Urias will be eligible for the postseason, which he said is a reason why he chose not to appeal.

"It is important to me not to create uncertainty for my teammates as we approach the playoffs," Urias said in the statement. "Accepting the suspension is the best path to achieve that goal."

The Dodgers issued their own statement, saying they are encouraged Urias will "learn" from this incident.

"While we are disappointed in what occurred and support the decision by the Commissioner's Office, we are also encouraged that Julio has taken responsibility for his actions and believe he will take the necessary steps to learn from this incident," the Dodgers' statement said.

Urias, who has alternated between the rotation and the bullpen for the Dodgers, has a 4-3 record with four saves and a 2.53 ERA. The right-hander has 67 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings and a 1.09 WHIP.

Hundreds are heading to Grangemouth for the national championships

More than 700 athletes will descend on Grangemouth this weekend in the pursuit of medals during what is the highlight of the Scottish track and field calendar – the FPSG Senior and U17 Championships.

The 127th edition of these Scottish Championships sees 405 entries for the Seniors events, with a host of GB and Scotland international athletes on the start-lists.

There are prize pots on offer at £2000 for athletes eligible for Scotland in the Seniors and likewise at £1000 in Para events – provided certain performance standards are met.

British discus international Nick Percy scooped that prize last year when winning gold and returns to defend his title, while Kirsty Law will be looking to finish top of the women’s podium again.

Other defending champions set to perform include Jax Thoirs, Neil Gourley, Kirsten McAslan, Chris Bennett, Jack Lawrie, Kelsey Stewart, Alisha Rees, Greg Millar and Alastair Hay.

The men’s long jump looks good with entries from a trio of U20 athletes who are GB internationals – Stephen Mackenzie, Alessandro Schenini and Calum Henderson, while the men’s 5000m features entries from Hay, Jamie Crowe, Kristian Jones, Ryan Thomson and James Donald.

Female athletes likely to contend for medals include Eloise Walker, Philippa Millage, Rachel Hunter, Anna Nelson, Sarah Warnock, Nikki Manson, Emma Nuttall, Zara Asante and Courtney MacGuire.

On the Para side, Jo Butterfield, Maria Lyle and Gavin Drysdale are expected in Grangemouth.

The Jamaican 800m runner on her breakthrough and selecting middle-distance over sprints

Natoya Goule heads to the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham fresh from winning the 800m at the Pan American Games, which came after a second-place finish at the Herculis Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

Doha will be the 28-year-old’s fourth world championships, but it is in the past two years that she’s established herself as a real contender.

The change came in 2018 when she broke 1:59 for the first time, something she attributes to a change in training.

“I started taking my long runs seriously,” the Jamaican tells me. “I used to train hard on the track but on long runs I didn’t monitor it with my watch, I just went out and ran.

“Then I started monitoring my runs and pacing myself better. That was one big change that I made. Also my diet.

“Because I’m small, people would say ‘you’ll be OK’ but even though I’m small, I’m getting older and I have to eat properly. So I started to eat properly and that also helped me to perform well last year.”

The breakthrough came when she took bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, behind Caster Semenya and Margaret Wambui.

“I barely made the final,” she recalls, “because in the heat three of us were running and the others cut in on me and I virtually had to stop and start running again.

“I came second in the heat but I almost missed making the final.

“In the final I decided just to follow Margaret Wambui. Every move she made I just followed. Then I started to kick. I almost got silver but I’m very grateful for bronze.”

In the years 2013-2017, she was in three outdoor and two indoor world championships, an Olympics and Commonwealth Games without making a final but she continued to believe in herself.

“Looking back, I see myself coming from afar because every time I was the last one to qualify for the next round. But I didn’t give up. I just had faith.

“Sometimes I felt bad, but I always tried to say ‘whenever God is ready’ because he always enabled me to run the times to get to the competitions so when he’s ready he will enable me to run the way he wants me to.”

Monaco is a favourite track. In 2018 she set a Jamaican record of 1:56.15.

“I cried after that race,” she says. “I knew I had run fast, perhaps 1:57, but I didn’t know it was 1:56. When they showed it to me I lay down the ground and started crying. I was really happy because God came through.”

This year she ran 1:57.90 behind Ajee Wilson (1:57.73) – another great result but she was not satisfied.

“I made a couple of mistakes in the race like being on the outside almost all the race and I tried to pass on the curve,” she says. “Because it’s a long curve I really didn’t know where the 150 mark was. I should have been more patient.”

I have to ask how she finished up being a middle-distance runner rather than another Jamaican sprinter?

“I honestly don’t know why Jamaica does not have many world-class 800 metre runners,” she replies. “We have lots of juniors growing up who can run the 800 but then they shy away from the event to do other distances.

“In our DNA we’re supposed to be able to run distance – 800 all the way up. But a lot of people don’t want to, they prefer to be sprinters or do shorter events.

“But based on where our DNA came from, we should be able to run distance well in Jamaica.

“A lot of our distance runners are from the country, where it is hilly. I think being from the country helped me as well.”

Having already been selected for Doha, she sees every race now as a stepping stone to the IAAF World Championships.

“But I am happy to be at the place I am where I know I will continue to strive and push forward,” she adds. “I tell myself I want to do really well this year to continue the success from last year into this year.

“My season didn’t start as I wanted it to but I think now is the right time because it’s a long season. So being at the stage I am right now, I think it is perfect.”

Stellar field features British record-holder plus Jamaican sprint star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, world champion Dafne Schippers and Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo

Dina Asher-Smith is getting ready to run ‘out of her skin’.

Returning to the scene of what she describes as one of her favourite ever races, which ended with her almost being sick on her agent’s shoes, the triple European champion will be giving it her all once again as she forms part of another fantastic field at the Müller Grand Prix in Birmingham.

That 200m in 2015 saw Asher-Smith race American sprint great Allyson Felix for the first time and her efforts were rewarded with a then PB of 22.30 as she finished third, just one hundredth of a second behind both Jeneba Tarmoh and Felix.

Since then the Briton has improved the national record to 21.89, while her fine recent form has seen her dip under 11 seconds for each of her 100m races and win two Diamond League 200m tests.

“One of my favourite races that I ever ran actually was in Birmingham when I first raced Allyson (Felix),” Asher-Smith says with a smile. “I ran a massive PB out of nowhere and I almost threw up on Ricky’s shoes afterwards – I was so dead!

“I remember running out of my skin here before and obviously I got rewarded with a massive PB so I’m coming to run out of my skin again tomorrow.

“I’m naturally quite a chilled and quiet person but I’m fiercely competitive so wherever I step on the track, every time I step on the line I step on there to win.”

Asher-Smith’s aim is to take on both the 100m and 200m at the IAAF World Championships in Doha and Sunday’s race in Birmingham will certainly provide a taste of what could be to come.

To her left will be multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and to her right, Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Joining them on the start line will be two-time world champion Dafne Schippers, current world No.2 Blessing Okagbare, world silver medallist Marie-Josée Ta Lou and US champion Dezerea Bryant.

“It’s going to be such a good race tomorrow. The field is packed,” adds Asher-Smith. “I’ve been fortunate to be racing around the Diamond League circuit this year with so many fantastically talented and incredible women and this race is obviously no different.

“I’m so glad to be running at home – I love running in the UK. I’m really happy that I’m getting to run in the UK later in the season, closer to the world championships. It’s not quite a final goodbye before Worlds but it’s as close as we can kind of get to that.

“I’ve had a good season so far. I don’t think I’ve had a 100m or 200m record like this before a major championships ever before. I’m just hoping that I stay healthy and fast and that the world championships will be a good one for me.”

.@dinaashersmith looks ahead to tomorrow’s stacked @BirminghamDL women’s 200m #BirminghamDL pic.twitter.com/MsqhNNX4oH

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) August 17, 2019

The fact that the Blackheath & Bromley sprinter is yet to peak brings a smile to the face of her coach, John Blackie, she says.

“Just to be in this position and to have opened up so quickly and still be in shape, still be fit, still be healthy and still be focused, I’m definitely taking that as a blessing,” she explains.

“After 2017, breaking my foot and then making the world champs, that taught me a lot about myself. I don’t take my own health and my body for granted. The fact that I’ve been able to stay under 11 seconds (for 100m) is great – I really want to stay sub-11.

“If next week (at the British Championships) there’s torrential rain and a headwind, I’ll be fuming, but I’ll still be going for it!”

Asked whether a win on Sunday is a real statement of intent ahead of the world championships, she replies: “Every race is a statement of intent but in all honesty, whoever wins tomorrow, it just means they are the best tomorrow. When it comes to the world championships, it’s a different kettle of fish.”

That sentiment was echoed by Fraser-Pryce.

“You can rack up a lot of wins on the circuit but when it all matters is at the world championships and that’s where my mind and my focus is,” the Jamaican told media at the pre-event press conference.

“Racing with talented athletes like Dina and Shaunae is definitely something that you can look forward to for the world championships, so there’s no surprises when you get there.”

.@realshellyannfp talks about her strong season so far and road to @IAAFDoha2019 pic.twitter.com/opwArG7DMc

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) August 17, 2019