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22/08/2022 00:00, In Blog / Track & Field /

European Championships, Munich
In the Olympic stadium, Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff) had the race of his life to take bronze in the men’s 100m. Running a new personal best of 10.13s, Jeremiah waited with anticipation as he looked up to the big screen to see the final positions come through. The scenes of joy and jubilation that followed, highlighted just how much his first senior international medal meant to him.

Reflecting on the race, Jeremiah said:

“I saw first come up, I saw second come up and I said ‘surely I have done enough to get third?’ and I was waiting and waiting and waiting and I saw my name and just screamed.”

I am fit. I had a little niggle mid-season, I came through it and I have come away with a bronze medal. I can’t complain. I ran a PB. I am chopping time slowly. Every time I step on the track, I am hitting 10.1, 10.1. Obviously, I’m British so I’ve had a windy 9.9 – I need to make that legal now.”

After the events was delayed due to thunderstorms, Jake Heyward (Cardiff) took full advantage of the familiar weather, putting together a storming run in the Men’s 1,500m to finish in second behind Jacob Ingebrigtsen. Finishing in a time of 3:34.44, Jake made his move with 200m to go before moving past the Spanish athlete, Mario Garcia, in the last 100m.

After his race, Jake said:

“The race went how I expected it to go, I knew Jakob was probably going to string it out at some point so that is why I tracked him. I stayed patient and obviously winning a silver medal is an incredible achievement. But I am disappointed that I couldn’t go with him and push him for the gold. He almost ran a separate race”

On the roads of Munich, Bethan Davies (Cardiff) had the race of her life over the 35km Race Walk. Placing 11th in a time of 2:59:39, it was the highest finish Bethan has ever achieved in an international championships, in what was her 3rd ever race over the distance.

For Rosie Edwards (Rotherham) it was a 35th place finish, running a time of 2:40:47 in brutally hot conditions helping to contribute to Great Britain's sixth place team finish. Andy Davies (Stockport) also finished in 35th place, with a time of 2:18:23, as he helped contribute to the teams seventh place finish.

Back on the track and over the one lap race, Joe Brier (Swansea) competing in his third major championships of the year, finished in 5th in heat 2 running a time of 46.06, but sadly it was not enough to progress to the next round. It was also 3 for 3 for Melissa Courtney Bryant (Poole) as she took on her third major championships of the year. Running a time of 4:09.11 in the first heats of the 1,500m, she finished 10th, which was not enough to progress to the final.

After setting a British Record in the 10,000m Race Walk at the Commonwealth Games, Heather Lewis (Pembroke) continued her good form in the 20km Race Walk, finishing in 13th place with a time of 1:35:36.

After the race, Heather shared:

I felt great at halfway but then after halfway I had nothing really to give, so I’m a bit disappointed in the way I felt, but you know the end result wasn’t as terrible as I thought so it’s fine. It’s been great to be out here and representing Great Britain – it’s a privilege, I’m just a little bit disappointed.
 
I’ve worked really hard on my technique and know when I get any cards how to deal with it, so that’s come a long way and I’m really pleased, I need to now try get a little bit fitter to be able to be stronger physically through the second half and to be able to push on and do a quicker second part.

Joe was also part of the Men’s 4 x 400m relay team, where he lead them off in the heats, running a split of 46.98s to help the team secure 3rd place and a spot in the final.

Jeremiah was back in action in the Men’s 4 x 100m, taking on the first leg for the team. Getting them off to a good start, the men qualified for the final, winning their heat.