Dina Asher-Smith got the party started with a sparkling win as the £72 million renovated home of British athletics opened its doors for the first time.
On a contrasting day for Britain’s top two sprinters, Asher-Smith beat a high-quality field to win the Diamond League 100 metres at the impressive new Alexander Stadium.
But Zharnel Hughes, Britain’s other European sprint champion, once again false started, was disqualified and walked straight into a withering blast from track legend Michael Johnson.
“Zharnel Hughes has false started every race I’ve seen him entered over the last year,” said Johnson, referring to his DQs in both last year’s Olympic and British Championship finals.
“At this point he’s taking a lane that should go to someone who’s going to finish the race.”
No such criticism of Britain’s golden girls, with Olympic medallists Laura Muir and Keely Hodgkinson winning impressively in the 1500m and 800m respectfully either side of Asher-Smith’s glory dash.
The 26-year-old Kent rocket exploded out of the blocks and held off Tokyo bronze medallist Shericka Jackson in the closing stages to win in 11.11 seconds.
The time was nothing special but for Asher-Smith, who dreams of championship medals rather than records and times, it was all about getting the job done.
"Being British I wanted to come to Birmingham in this beautiful new stadium and put on show,” she said.
“I could have done a few things differently if I'm being picky but I'm very happy to win against this field and in this wind.
“I'm about the championships and that's always been my focus. So all of our energy and all of our peaks are going down the end of the season.”
Asher-Smith was not done, returning to the track for the final race to help Britain’s sprint relay women to victory by a wide margin in a world leading 42.49secs.
The old dilapidated stadium in Birmingham had been transformed into a 30,000 state-of-the-art track and field venue - heightening Asher-Smith’s anticipation of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
“The stadium is really beautiful,” she said. “It doesn't even feel like the old stadium, almost like we're in Zurich, one of the fancy ones, you know?”
The place will be jumping in August if Hodgkinson repeats the form that won her the 800m at a canter in 1:58.63.
Laura Muir was no less emphatic, setting the pace with Jessica Hull before pulling away from the Australian to win in 4:02.81.
Britain’s sprint relay men suffered fresh agony when failing to get the baton round on their first appearance since losing the Olympic silver medal.
Richard Kilty, Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake were back racing together after being stripped of their medals due to CJ Ujah’s positive drugs test.
Hoping to turn the page on a heartbreaking chapter in their careers, the trio endured further disappointment as Kilty and Mitchell-Blake made a mess of the final changeover when leading.
Adam Gemili, brought into the team to replace Ujah, who faces a ban of up to four years, admitted: "We're pretty rusty at the moment.
“But when we get sharp and get it right we'll challenge the best."
Local hero Matthew Hudson-Smith cut an altogether happier figure after winning the 400m in 45.32secs on his home track which will host the Commonwealth Games.
The injury-plagued star said: "It means everything to me this year. This is my home town, my club, a new stadium and a home champs.
“I am with a new coach and training in a new environment in the US. Everything is coming together so I am really happy.”
