Defending champion Jeremiah Azu narrowly missed out on a medal in “one of the best 60m races of all time” at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
Twelve months after claiming the first global title of his career with world indoor gold in China, Azu missed out on a return to the podium by just 0.01 seconds as he clocked 6.46 seconds in Torun.
The 24-year-old always faced fierce competition as he sought to defend his title but displayed his medal credentials by improving his personal best to 6.45 in the semi-finals – a time which moved him to second on the British all-time list behind Dwain Chambers.
But American Jordan Anthony, who arrived at the championships as the fastest man this year, ran the joint-fourth fastest time in history as he improved to 6.41 to take gold ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic and world 100m medallist Kishane Thompson.
Thompson and American Trayvon Bromell both finished in 6.45 to complete the podium and deny Azu in a thrilling conclusion to the opening day of action.
“They didn’t let us down. These guys did what we expected them to do,” two-time world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson said on BBC TV.
“An electric performance – we’ve witnessed one of the best 60m races of all time so that’s a very special thing in itself, and Jeremiah Azu was in the mix.
“Azu got out very sharp – he’s one of the fastest starters in the world – but Anthony was out a little bit ahead and did what was necessary.”
Azu told BBC Sport: “It’s tough. I was very vocal about defending that World Athletics Indoor Championships 2026: Jeremiah Azu narrowly misses out on 60m medal and I fell short.
“It’s track and field – you win some you lose some. I’m still able to use this gift to try and inspire people. But it’s tough to take right now.”
Earlier on Friday, Olympic champion and indoor world record holder Keely Hodgkinson controlled her women’s 800m heat from start to finish to win in two minutes 00.32 seconds and reach the semi-finals, where she will be joined by team-mate Isabelle Boffey.
Ben Pattison, winner of world 800m bronze in 2023, won his heat in 1:47.48 to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s event, which also take place on Saturday morning.
Olympic and world medallist Georgia Hunter Bell secured her place in the women’s 1500m final by placing first in 4:12.09, but Jemma Reekie missed out after finishing fourth in her race.
