World and European indoor 60m champion Jeremiah Azu completed the sprint double on the second day of the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham on Sunday (15).
After winning the 60m title yesterday in 6.56, Azu showed his growing all-round versatility by blasting to victory around one lap of the banked track in the 200m in an outright lifetime best of 20.77, eclipsing his outdoor PB of 20.83.
"It’s about time that I became a sprinter and cover the 60m, 100m and the 200m. It’s an honour to win medals nationally and race the best in the UK. Heading into the World Indoors I feel like I am in a good place," said Azu after his sixth race in just over 24 hours.
Regis breaks Ottey's championship record
Renee Regis broke one of the longest standing championship records in the semifinals of the women’s 200m.
The 20-year-old stopped the clock at 22.89 to become the first sprinter to break the 23 second-barrier in championship history, erasing the previous mark set by the legendary Merlene Ottey who clocked 23.07 as a guest in 1990.
"I didn’t expect to run that fast in the semifinal – my coaches told me to hit it and commit, so that’s exactly what I did," said Regis, who was presented with her gold medal by father and former world champion John Regis.
Regis wasn’t quite as fast in the final but she was rewarded with another sub-23 second clocking with 22.95.
The biggest shock of the weekend came in the final race of the weekend with 2023 European U23 champion Yemi Mary John overhauling reigning world indoor champion and 2026 world leader Amber Anning in the home straight of the women's 400m final.
John sat on Anning’s shoulder from the break of lanes before timing her finish to perfection, forging to victory off the final bend in 51.69 ahead of a fatiguing Anning who was overhauled for the runner-up spot by Louisa Stoney with both athletes sharing the same time of 51.83.
By contrast, the men’s 400m went largely to form with Lewis Davey, who won bronze in the 4x400m at the 2024 Olympic Games, taking the plaudits in 46.45.
Championship records fall in the middle distances
World 5000m finalist Hannah Nuttall produced a final kilometre of 2:45.02 to pull away from Katie Snowden for victory in the women’s 3000m in 8:41.75 to break Jo Pavey’s previous championship record of 8:43.23.
Jack Higgins also set a championship record in the men’s 1500m, winning in 3:38.12 ahead of James McMurray in 3:38.36.
In the women’s 800m which was lacking Keely Hodgkinson whose intention was just to run in the heats ahead of a possible attack on the world indoor record in Lievin on Thursday, Isabelle Boffey took a gun-to-tape victory in the final in 1:59.64 to win by almost two seconds from Emily Simpson in 2:01.43.
In the men’s 800m, 2023 world bronze medallist Ben Pattison continued his path to top form after injury with a commanding win in 1:46.74.
Other notable performances on day two included former European U18 champion Thomas Keen making a successful long run for home in the 3000m to hold off the fast-finishing Henry McLuckie, 7:51.68 to 7:51.70, and Jemma Reekie kicking to victory in a tactical women’s 1500m in 4:26.26.
Scott Lincoln also landed his 21st national title in the shot put with a mark of 20.80m.