Nailbitingly Close Fourth Place for Azu in the 60m on Day One of World Indoor Champs

An incredibly tight 60m final saw Novuna GB & NI athlete Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James) miss out on the podium, finishing fourth by 0.01 seconds. He set a new Welsh record and became the second-fastest Brit of all time on the route to the final. Meanwhile, Team captain Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter) confidently confirmed her place in the 1500m final on Sunday.

Azu advanced in style, running a personal best of 6.45 in the semi‑final, finishing second behind the USA’s Jordan Anthony. His time put him just 0.03 outside Dwain Chambers’ British record and secured a new Welsh record, giving the Cardiff sprinter the third‑fastest qualifying time heading into the final.

Facing a stacked field in the final, Azu got out strongly and held himself in contention until the closing centimetres. It was a photo finish between second and third spot as Azu narrowly crossed the line in fourth, edged out by the USA’s Trayvon Bromell by 0.01s. The British champion nearly matched his new PB with 6.46 and leaves the championships as the second‑fastest Briton of all time—an impressive run of performances.

“It a tough one to take, but I am proud that I came and tried to defend my title. I fell short and it hurts a lot, but that’s track and field. You live and you learn and you get better. I am defiantly at the start of my peak; I’ve got four or five more years of crazy good times.

“Its good to be on the worlds start line again and I’m excited for the future, but ultimately right now I’m disappointed. For me the final is never about the times I run, it’s about a medal.”

In her 1500m heat, team captain Georgia Hunter Bell employed the tactic of settling at the back early on and staying composed before moving through the field into the top three. As the bell sounded, Hunter Bell and Australia’s Jessica Hull surged ahead, but the Briton pulled away with ease down the home straight to take the win in 4:12.09.

“I was trying to stay relaxed and not get overwhelmed—stay out of trouble—but I was thinking, I am team captain, so I must lead by example. I’m very happy to have got the job done and I’m feeling good heading into the final, but I know it is going to be tough.”

Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan, Jon Bigg) left everything on the track in an incredibly competitive heat. Forced to lead from the gun before tucking in behind Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom, she battled through a physical race and launched a final sprint with the front three, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

“It was a really messy race. I didn’t want to be at the front, but I ended up putting myself there. I got bumped and barged, but that is the nature of 1500m running. I came here to get uncomfortable and learn, and that’s what happened. Unfortunately, it’s not the result I wanted, but there’s lots to take from it.”

In the men’s 1500m, both Jack Higgins (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) and James McMurray (St Albans, Deborah Steer) finished seventh in their heats and did not progress to the final.

The championships marked McMurray’s senior international track debut for GB & NI. He put the burners on in the final lap in an attempt to chase down the leaders from the back of the pack, eventually finishing in 3:44.75.

The action continues tomorrow morning on BBC Two with the women’s 60m heats featuring Dina Asher‑Smith and Amy Hunt.