Chijindu Ujah sets Usain Bolt in his sights after breaking 10-second barrier in 100m

Chijindu Ujah. PHOTO/Getty Images

British Sprinter Chijindu Ujah has set his sights on Usain Bolt after becoming the youngest Briton to break the 10-second barrier over 100 meters.

Ujah, 20, ran 9.96 seconds in Hengelo, Holland, on Sunday to become the third fastest of just five British sprinters to achieve the fabled feat.

Ujah, has come a long way since finishing sixth in the 2012 World Junior 100m final in Barcelona, won by compatriot Adam Gemili, and Ujah’s US$4,000 prize money from Sunday’s race is his biggest to date.

And now he is keen to test himself against Usain Bolt – once the greatest sprinter of all time recovers from a foot injury.

“It’s every sprinter’s dream to get on the line with the best people in the world and compete to the best of their ability,” Ujah said. “Usain Bolt has raised the bar and everybody now feels they can go under the 10-second barrier.

Ujah, also known to his friends as ‘CJ’ or ‘Chinji’, gave up soccer at the age of 16 to concentrate on athletics and joins the likes of James Dasaolu, Richard Kilty, Dwain Chambers and Gemili in vying for a place at the European Championships in August this year.

Ujah welcomes the competition. “This is what British sprinting has needed for a long time now. Quite a few guys have gone sub-10.2 and are making the trials look very exciting. Things are really hotting up in British sprinting. “It’s definitely exciting but I like those moments and hopefully it can bring out the best in me and the other athletes and we can drive each other to superb times and make the world alert.”