Jeremiah Azu Double Paves the Way for Welsh Glory at UK Indoor Championships

Azu was part of a Welsh group who delivered standout performances at the weekend, leaving the championships with an impressive overall medal return and a host of record-breaking displays.

Across the two-day meeting, athletes from Wales amassed 15 medals in total, made up of five golds, six silvers and four bronzes. 

Azu was first to the top of the podium on day one, producing a commanding run to claim the men’s 60m crown for the third year in succession. 

READ MORE: Wales Star Jeremiah Azu Insists: “I’m in the Shape of my Life” on eve of World Championships

The reigning European and world indoor champion stopped the clock at 6.56 seconds to fend off a tightly packed field, continuing a remarkable 12 months that has also seen him become a father.

He then bagged the 200m title to make it a double.

An emotional Azu reflected on his victories and said: “It is never easy to defend these titles, and it is not something I take for granted. 

“I am getting emotional because my family are here, my son is here, it is such a privilege.”

READ MORE: Jeremiah Azu Turns Attention to Relay After 100m Semi-Final Agony

“I will be going to world indoors to go and defend my title. This was a dress rehearsal. I actually wanted to run quicker, well I always want to run quicker.

“The emotions of running in competition always have an impact. Training can’t do that. So, getting through this today gives me confidence going into world indoors.

“My life has changed so much over the last 12 months. It is never easy and nothing is guaranteed, no matter how hard we train.”

READ MORE: Abi Pawlett . . . Courage and Class From Wales’ top Heptathlete in Tokyo

Saturday laid the foundations for the Welsh success, with early gold medals for Azu and Abi Pawlett, while Thomas Walley secured a bronze. 

By the end of Sunday, the Welsh medal count had surged dramatically, with another 12 medals added, including three more titles.

Pawlett, 23, defended her 60m hurdles title in style, breaking her own Welsh indoor record in her heat, semi-final and final. 
After lowering the mark to 8.05 in the final, she still looked eager for more improvement.

“It wasn’t the smoothest start to the season with illness over the winter, but I opened up the season decently last week (at the Welsh indoor championships), and I am really happy with how today has gone,” said Pawlett.

“I really want to get sub 8 now – I think I looked unhappy after every race, but I was just trying so hard to get sub 8. I think I have a chance of doing it next week at the Corpernicus Cup.

“If world indoors isn’t to be, then my focus will be outdoors. It is ok, there are the Europeans and the Commonwealths, so they are big goals for the year.”

Sunday brought further gold medals for Wales, with Issy Boffey claiming the 800m title in 1:59.64 to secure her third UK indoor crown, and Bethan Davies winning the 3000m walk in 14:00.94 on her return to the championships after four years away.

Silver medals followed for Hannah Brier in the 200m and Harry Bradley in the 400m, where Bradley set a lifetime best of 47.04. 

Bronze medals were added by Hannah Lake in the high jump, Sabrina Fortune in the shot put with a personal best of 15.12m, and Walley in the pole vault with a clearance of 5.25m.

By the close of competition, the Welsh squad had not only filled the medal table but also sent a clear message ahead of upcoming international championships, combining championship experience with emerging talent and record-breaking form.