By Owen Morgan

Jeremiah Azu celebrated the week of his 18th birthday by smashing his 100m personal best for the second time in seven days to go third on the all-time Welsh lists at the Loughborough International.

The Cardiff AAC speed merchant had set a new personal best of 10.39 at last weekend’s British Athletics League Premiership match in Swansea.

Then, on his birthday during the week, the teenager ran a wind assisted time of 10.31 at the Welsh Athletics Run With the Wind Sprints Open Meeting in Cardiff.

But Azu didn’t need any assistance from the elements at Loughborough on Sunday when he streaked to victory in the 100m representing Great Britain Under-20s.

The British Senior Indoor Championships bronze medallist, clocked a new personal best of 10.27 as he finished clear of England’s Oliver Bromby, who finished in 10.34.

Azu’s new mark took him ahead of Welsh sprint hurdles legend Colin Jackson on the all-time Welsh lists behind national record holder Christian Malcolm (10.11) and Tim Abeyie (10.22).

The time also improved his European Under20 leading mark this season.

There were a number of other fine performances from Welsh athletes on a day of high class international athletics at the Paula Ratcliffe Stadium.

Swansea Harrier Hannah Brier, representing Loughborough University, finished second to GB Under-20s Amy Hunt in the women’s 100m in a time of 11.79.

The Welsh women’s 4x100m team of Melissa Roberts, Amy Odunaiya, Hannah Williams and Mica Moore also gained a second place just behind the Great Britain U-20 team in 45.37.

Swansea Harrier Lauren Williams finished third for Wales in the 400m hurdles in a season’s best time of 60.33.

In the field events, Cardiff’s Sarah Omoregie threw a huge personal best of 15.38m to take third for the British Juniors, putting her 11th on the all-time British junior rankings.

Wales’ Tom Hewson claimed second in the javelin with a season’s best effort of 67.88m, while in the women’s event Bethan Rees earned third place with a throw of 48.24m.

Adele Nicoll claimed another second place for Wales in the shot put where she produced an effort of 15.91m with her final put of the day.

Osian Jones produced a best throw of 69.42 metres to claim third place in the hammer. Meanwhile, in the discus James Tomlinson’s first round effort of 56.51m for GB Under-20s was enough to secure third place.

Overall Team Standings:
England: 210
Loughborough: 161.5
Great Britain Under 20s: 142
Scotland: 116
BUCS: 115
Wales: 86.5