Jeremiah Azu, Elliot Jones breeze into men’s 100m semi-finals as athletics programme begins at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Updated 27/07/2026 at 14:56 GMT+1
React to this story
It was a good morning for the home nations in the men’s 100m heats at Scotstoun Stadium as Team Wales’ Jeremiah Azu and England’s Elliot Jones comfortably booked their spots in the semi-finals with impressive runs.
Watch: Azu has battle cry for the camera after cruising into men's 100m semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jones crossed the line in 10.07 seconds, with Azu marginally slower, stopping the clock at 10.10 seconds as the athletics programme began under grey skies at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
With heat placings counting for nothing, it was essentially a time trial, and both Azu and Jones looked in impressive form.
The wind was favourable inside the Scotstoun Stadium, but the times across the board were very competitive, raising the prospect of a thrilling battle for the medals.
Paralympian and TNT Sports expert Jonnie Peacock was impressed by what he saw from both Azu and Jones.
"[Azu's] energy is amazing, he really feeds off the crowd," Peacock said. "He looks like he’s just enjoying his athletics again.
"He got such an electric start but he was actually able to hold on in the last 20m. He’s an incredible starter, so he’s always going to get to 60m amazingly, but we’re starting to see him hold that finish.
- Hale hits out at 'joke' referee and 'random' decisions after loss
- Ramsay-Peaty reveals 'battle plan' after reaching 50m breaststroke final on 'great trajectory'
"I’m excited to see what he can do in the semis."
Peacock also praised the work ethic of Jones, which is now starting to bear fruit.
"He [Jones] has one of the best starts in the UK right now," Peacock added. "I see him train every day and he trains so hard.
"Under Leon [Baptiste], they’ve got him into amazing shape. He’s been grinding it out for three years getting faster and faster and this year he’s starting to reap the rewards."
Jones certainly isn't lacking any confidence, vowing to build on his qualifying run to go even faster when the men's 100m resumes.
"It’s my season’s best, it’s what I came here to do," he told TNT Sports. "I got a late call-up into the squad. One of our team-mates got injured and I got called in and I said I was just going to enjoy the experience.
"I’m gonna come here, I’m gonna run my quickest and do my best. It’s my international debut, so I’m just happy to be here and happy to be running my best times.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/07/27/image-a018a7ac-3db8-4807-a977-2f669e735514-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Jones makes bullish promise to run sub-10 seconds in 100m semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It’s incredible [to be here] because I know what I can do. I’ve not quite run as quick as I can this year but I’m gonna show the world that I can go sub-10 [seconds] and I’m going to do it tomorrow, so let’s go."
Ghanaians Benjamin Azamati (10.00) and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (10.01) recorded the fastest times across the 11 heats.
England’s Lansiquot fastest in women’s 100m heats
Team England also have two hopefuls through to the women’s 100m semi-finals. Both Mabel Akande and Imani Lansiquot won their respective heats, the latter running the fastest time in qualifying.
Akande’s early benchmark time of 11.32 was eventually beaten, but nobody could better the 11.04 of Lansiquot, who is back competing after two years on the sidelines through injury.
"I’ve been so excited for this competition," Lansiquot told TNT Sports. "It’s my first back after injury so I’m very proud of that. It felt smooth, it felt controlled, so onto tomorrow."
On the journey back from injury to full fitness, she added: "It’s gruelling. Athletes don’t talk much about injury and what it does to your mental health and it’s been hard, but I feel like I’m stronger than ever now.
"The funny thing about being at the bottom is you realise there’s no glass ceiling. I’m here to have fun, I’m here to enjoy this incredible crowd, and there’s no limit on me."
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement