• Diamond League

Williams disappoints but wins for Farah and Meadows

Jodie Williams clocked 22.95 seconds, with Bianca Knight winning in 22.69 © Getty Images

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Jodie Williams felt vindicated in her decision to miss this month's World Championships after finishing seventh in the Diamond League meeting in London.

The double European Under-23 champion clocked 22.95 seconds in the 200 metres, 0.01s outside her season's best, in a race won by Bianca Knight in 22.69.

Afterwards, Williams said she felt it was valuable experience ahead of next year's Olympics, in which she will be expected to emulate her junior achievements on the big stage.

"I think this proves that I should not be there, I'm just not ready for it," said Williams. "This is the perfect way for me to build up rather than going straight into the World Championships. I'm just trying to gain some experience ahead of the Olympic Games next year.

"It was an incredible experience. In the warm-up area I was like, 'Wow'. I'm quite happy, for my first Diamond League I can't complain. I was hoping for a PB but there was a headwind and these guys are so fast but I just came here for the experience."

Double European champion Mo Farah crushed his 3,000m rivals with a devastasting spurt across the final 200m to claim victory, after Jenny Meadows set a season's best to storm to 800m glory.

Farah said to BBC Sport: "I was really confident - I wanted to use a different tactic, and it worked. I will taper before Daegu, go back to the US to train and then go on to Korea."

Elsewhere, Britain's Andrew Osagie sealed his place on the plane to South Korea for the Worlds with a time of 1:45.36 in the 800m, which was won by world-record holder David Rudisha of Kenya, who is now 30 races unbeaten.

Perri-Shakes Drayton ran a season's best in the 400m hurdles, but it was only enough to grab third, with Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer the winner in the fastest time in the world this year, 52.79s.

Asafa Powell withdrew from the event at the last minute, citing a groin strain.

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