With just two weeks to go before the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Jeremiah Azu has produced the fastest race of his career over 60 metres. Competing at the ISTAF Indoor meeting in Berlin, the British sprinter stormed to victory in 6.47 seconds, setting a new personal best and confirming the excellent form he has shown throughout the indoor season as the winter’s major championship approaches.
A controlled heat, then a record in the final
The evening in Berlin initially began under unusual circumstances due to technical problems with the starting system. The opening heat was interrupted several times as the starting mechanism repeatedly malfunctioned. In total, eight attempts were required before the sprinters were finally able to get away cleanly. After a short pause to reset the system, the races resumed to determine the finalists.
Despite the disruption, Jeremiah Azu remained composed. The British athlete handled the delay without difficulty and quickly demonstrated his superiority once the race finally started. From the gun he produced a clean start and immediately moved into a strong position. Without needing to push to his limits, he controlled the race from start to finish and crossed the line in 6.54 seconds, comfortably winning his heat and securing a place in the final.
When the athletes returned to the blocks for the final later in the evening, the intensity rose immediately. The British sprinter delivered a much sharper start this time, reacting quickly to the gun and accelerating powerfully through the first phase of the race. Over 60 metres, the opening strides are decisive, and Azu used them to establish an early advantage.
From there he maintained his top-end speed all the way to the finish line. His drive phase was controlled and efficient, and his cadence remained strong through the final metres. The result was a superb 6.47 seconds, a new personal best for the fastest indoor performance of his career.
The time also broke the meeting record, previously held by fellow British sprinter Reece Prescod, by two hundredths of a second. Behind Azu, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme finished second in 6.55 seconds. Racing on home soil, Germany’s Heiko Gussmann (6.60), Kevin Kranz (6.61) and Owen Ansah (6.62) completed the top six.
Azu’s 6.47 carries further significance beyond the race victory. The mark not only improves his previous personal best but also establishes a new Welsh record, which he had previously shared with British sprint legend Colin Jackson.
The performance also moves him up to third on the British all-time list over 60 metres. Only Dwain Chambers, with 6.42, and Jason Gardener, with 6.46, have run faster under the colours of the United Kingdom. Both athletes are iconic figures of British indoor sprinting, making Azu’s achievement even more notable.
Berlin’s result also places Azu among the fastest sprinters in the world this season. In 2026 only a handful of athletes have posted quicker indoor times. American sprinter Jordan Anthony leads the world list with 6.43, while Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi has run 6.45 and Malachi Snow has recorded 6.46.
Two Jamaican sprinters have also clocked 6.46 and 6.47 outdoors with wind assistance. Those performances, however, are not counted in the official indoor rankings, meaning Azu’s time stands firmly among the very best indoor marks of the year.
After the race, Azu expressed satisfaction with both his performance and the atmosphere of the Berlin meeting.
“Berlin is always fantastic. The ISTAF Indoor is a competition athletes really enjoy competing in. I wanted to break the meeting record and run fast. The false starts didn’t bother me. We train to deal with those situations.”
With the World Indoor Championships in Torun now just around the corner, this performance reinforces the momentum behind the British sprinter. As the reigning world champion over 60 metres, Azu will arrive in Poland with the goal to defend his global indoor crown.
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