Azu qualifies for 60m semi-finals at World Indoor Athletics Championships

Great Britain and Northern Ireland got underway at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing this morning with the men’s 60m the first of events featuring GB athletes.

Andy Robertson (Alex O’Gorman, Sale Harriers Manchester) was first up of GB’s two European Indoor 60m medallists from Apeldoorn and got away to a superb start, only to falter mid race and pull up with what appeared to be a thigh strain.

Crossing the line slowly in 7th place he shared his disappointment:

“My groin went, I didn’t feel anything at warm up, I felt good and I felt confident. First few steps out of the blocks felt fine and then when I went to go again something just ‘went’ and I thought I could get through it.

“Preparations have been really good. Not an awful long time to acclimatize as we got here Monday night but I tried to recover as best I could and warmed up well and stayed hydrated, it’s just one of those things.”

Soon after it was Jeremiah Azu’s (Helen James, Cardiff) turn to take to the track and he made short work of the qualifying heat, taking first place in 6.53 to ease into tonight’s semi finals.

Azu said: “It was good, I got out well maintained it, eased through the line – I am feeling good.

“The Europeans was huge for me but having to go home and look after a baby, none of that matters anymore … there is so much going on it has benefitted me to forgetting about running for two weeks and come here fresh as if nothing has happened!”

As well as further men’s 60m action, tonight’s session includes men’s and women’s 1500m heats featuring Team Captain Neil Gourley and the first round of the women’s 400m with Amber Anning.