Three British sprinters through to 200m final as Hunt and Asher-Smith win semis at European Championships

Great Britain will have three sprinters in the women's 200m final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham after Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt won their semi-finals and Success Eduan qualified on time. The final is scheduled for 13 August. BBC Sport

Hunt, already the 100m champion from these championships, carried her form into the longer sprint. She won her semi-final with the composure of someone who has been here before — and lately, she has. The 22-year-old took 200m silver at the World Athletics Championships, running 22.14, and now holds one of the three fastest 200m times in Europe this season. European Athletics

Asher-Smith, the former European and world champion, won her own semi-final to reach the final. She had finished fifth in the 100m final earlier in the programme, running 11.10 — matching the season's best she set in her semi-final. The 200m has long been her signature distance, and reaching another major final puts her back in contention. Olympics.com

Eduan, the third member of the British trio, qualified via her semi-final time rather than an automatic top-two placing. The reigning European under-23 champion over 200 metres, she beat Hunt at the British Championships in June — a result that signalled her readiness to compete against anyone on the team. European Athletics

The three hold the fastest 200m times in Europe this year, which gives the home crowd genuine hope of a British sweep of the medals. BBC Sport

What makes the final compelling is the internal dynamic. Hunt has the fastest credentials and the momentum of a 100m title won on this same track. Eduan has already beaten her this summer. Asher-Smith, the most decorated of the three, is chasing a return to the podium after a 100m final that left her wanting more. None of the three can be called a favourite without argument.

The 200m final on 13 August will settle it.