Ghosts of relays past return as Britain’s women suffer baton disaster in Munich

The British 4x100m women’s team comfort each other after failing to complete the final in Munich. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Dina Asher-Smith had expected to bring the curtain down on an exceptional European championships for Britain by leading the 4x100m women to gold. Instead she was left with her hands on her hips as the ghosts of relays past came back to haunt the team.

Dropped batons used to be one of those perennial British problems, alongside late-running trains and bad food at motorway service stations.