Last week, several competitions saw the best young British athletes shine on the track. With personal bests, historic performances, and European qualification standards achieved, these young talents are confirming their immense potential for the future of British athletics—just under a month away from the national indoor championships.
Young Talents Shine at the Welsh Championships
It was his first race of the season, but that didn’t stop Jeremiah Azu (23) from starting 2025 in style at the Welsh Championships. He won the 60m in 6.64 seconds, just 0.08 off his personal best set in 2022. This performance puts him at the top of the national rankings early in the year. Behind him, 18-year-old Lewis Stephens set a new personal best with a time of 6.81 seconds.
Among the young sprinters, 14-year-old Aliyah Afolabi stood out by clocking an impressive 7.49 seconds in the 60m. This time places her seventh on the all-time UK U17 rankings, just 0.02 seconds away from the Welsh record in that age category, held by Hannah Brier.
Phoebe Gill Continues to Impress
In London, at the London Indoor Games, Phoebe Gill made a strong statement in the 400m. Considered Keely Hodgkinson’s successor due to her nationality and 800m specialization, the 17-year-old completed her race in 53.65 seconds, placing her sixth on the UK all-time indoor U20 list. This time secures her qualification for the European U20 Championships, though it’s highly likely she will forgo that event to focus on the 800m.
Behind her, 18-year-old 400m hurdles specialist Stephanie Okoro also impressed, running 54.36 seconds. Both athletes had previously won gold in their respective events at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. Following an outstanding 2024 season, where she reached the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, Phoebe Gill continues to establish herself as one of the country’s most promising young athletes.
A Future Star in Pole Vault?
Finally, at Lee Valley, U17 pole vaulter Ava Hayes delivered a spectacular jump of 4.10m, shattering her previous personal best of 3.44m by a remarkable 66 centimeters. If confirmed, this result exceeds the European U20 standards and highlights her exceptional potential. Hayes could be following in the footsteps of Molly Caudery, Britain’s top pole vaulter, who won the World Indoor Championship last year and posted the best mark of 2024 with 4.92 meters.
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