UK Indoor Championships: Rene Regis adds to the family legacy with 200m gold

In the men’s 200 meters final, Jeremiah Azu won, completing the sprint double, one day after winning the 60 meters gold.

The world indoor 60m champion claimed victory with a time of 20.77 seconds.

Athletes were required to compete at the UK Indoor Championships to be considered for selection for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland (20-22 March), and must also secure the World Athletics entry standard by the March 4 deadline.

Former world indoor champion Josh Kerr was granted a medical exemption after withdrawing from the men’s 3000m with a back injury, and Tom Keane stepped up in his absence to win the race.

Hannah Nuttall retained her women’s 3000m title in a championship record time, crossing the finish line in 8 minutes 41.75 seconds, taking almost two seconds off Joe Pavey’s previous best (8:43.23) in 2004.

Welsh champion Essie Bovey took advantage of the absence of Olympic gold medalist Kelly Hodgkinson to win a third UK indoor title in the women’s 800m, finishing in 1:59.64 seconds, the second fastest of her career.

Hodgkinson set a national record of 1 minute 56.33 seconds in qualifying but did not take part in Sunday’s final as she is scheduled to race in France on Thursday.

World indoor 800m silver medalist Gemma Reekie pulled away from the field to comfortably win the women’s 1500m title, while Jack Higgins won the men’s race in a championship record time of 3:38.12.

World champion Amber Anning had to settle for a surprise third place finish in the women’s 400m, ahead of winners Yemi-Marie John and Louisa Stoney.

Meanwhile, Scott Lincoln surpassed Linford Christie’s record of UK indoor titles (nine), to win the men’s shot put for a 10th time with the longest throw of 20.80 metres.