Rank outsider Jeremiah Azu stunned the bigwigs in men’s 60m final at Nanjing’s World Indoor Championships as the European Indoor Champion upgraded to world champion with a personal best time of 6.49.
The Brit was followed across the finish line by another unfancied athlete in Kennedy Lachlan of Australia who stopped the clock on 6.50 to claim bronze ahead of South Africa’s Akani Simbine who won his first global medal as a senior athlete.
Simbine clocked 6.54 to round up the podium.
It was unfortunate for Ronnie Baker of the United States, the pre-race favourite who powered into the final with the fastest time and was widely expected to win the USA a gold medal. He seemed on course for victory but pulled up with a few meters to the finish line grimacing in pain while clutching at the back of his thigh.
Despite his affliction he still crossed the line 6th in 6.59 ahead of two runners in Julian Forde of Barbados and Eloy Benitez Puerto Rico
