Daryll Neita has a ‘taste for gold’ after Team England’s 4x100m women’s relay team were rightfully honoured as 2022 Commonwealth Games champions at the 2024 London Athletics Meet.

England bagged silver in Birmingham two years ago - but in July 2023, the Nigerian team, who crossed the line first at the Alexander Stadium, were disqualified due to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation against Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha. 

That meant the five-woman England squad, consisting of Neita, Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Ashleigh Nelson, were upgraded to Commonwealth champions, retaining their 2018 Gold Coast title. 

A year after the initial verdict, the quintet received their gold medals during the London Athletics Meet, a Diamond League event, in front of a home crowd at a sold-out London Stadium.

“It's bittersweet because it was a home Games, it was Birmingham,” Neita said. “I'd run a person best in my own race in that championships and it would've ended it so nicely with the gold in that moment. 

“We earned this two years ago and we were only awarded today. Things could have been so different if we got this achievement in a live moment.

“But to be honest with you, it is what it is, and we were able to get upgraded today in front of a home crowd and it was still an amazing celebration.”

Collecting her deserved gold just six days out from the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, the presentation acted as a timely morale boost for Neita, who will represent Team GB on the Olympic stage this summer.

And Neita revealed that her confidence was sky high after achieving a season’s best in the individual 200m sprint at the meet, while also helping set a new world lead in the 4x100m relay.

“Paris, that's what's next,” Neita said. “There's nothing else in between that. 

“So it's just eat, sleep, recover, and then get myself mentally and physically ready and as sharp as possible for the Games. I'm in a great place.

“It's a motivational boost. To get a season's best today shows that I'm heading in the right direction. 

“I've got a taste for gold. It tastes good and it feels good and it looks good.”