Marco Airale-coached athletes take blue ribbon sprint crowns in Birmingham on Saturday

The winners of the 60m titles at the Microplus UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham were born in Britain but their victories were forged in Italy in recent months under the guidance of coach Marco Airale.

Amy Hunt and Jeremiah Azu are part of an Italian-based squad which is full of Brits and they are clearly thriving in the Anglo-Italian system. Hunt won the womens national title in 7.26 ahead of Bianca Williams and Mabel Akande whereas Azu claimed the mens gold in style with 6.60 from Andy Robertson and Ojie Edoburun.

That was the goal and to give our coach two medals, so I think hes happy, said Azu. I joined the group in October 2022 and Im enjoying it and finding my flow now. It was a bit of a struggle last year being away from home but I find Ive found my feet now.

Has Azu been inspired to learn the Italian language, though? Er, thats a step too far really! he smiled. I live with Adan Gemili and we just speak English to each other the whole time.

Hunt was a little critical of her own race but was pleased to win. I think an Italian job would have been a little smoother and quicker, she said. But that was a little rusty. But Im happy to come away with the win, especially after a questionable start. I dont want to be negative but my start was pretty trash. I just had to trust myself and to know I had the legs and speeds to come through in the last 30 metres.

Hunt was a teenage prodigy who has been navigating the notoriously tricky transition into senior athletics. During 2019-20, for example, she won 200m gold at the European Under-20 Championships as well as breaking the world under-18 record for the distance.

She explained her move to Italy, saying: I graduated from Cambridge (University) and the next day I woke at 2am and went to Padova and was met at the train station and went to a railway station at 11am. It was very poetic as one chapter of my life closed and another opened.

She added: The training group is insane. Everyone brings something very unique and I learn something from someone every day.

READ MORE: Marco Airale interview

After the double victory in Birmingham, she added: I guess we must be doing something right.