Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

Jake Heyward

Jake David T. Heyward is a Welsh middle-distance runner. He was a silver medalist at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in the 1500 metres, competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and represented Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Last revised
Jul 24, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
815 w
Citations
18
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Jake Heyward
Heyward in 2018
Personal information
Full nameJake David T. Heyward
NationalityBritish (Welsh)
Born (1999-04-26) 26 April 1999
Lisvane, Cardiff, Wales
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event
1500 m
ClubOregon Track Club
Cardiff AAC
Turned pro
2019
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • 800 m: 1:46.47 (Stockholm 2021)
  • 1000 m: 2:18.55 (Finn Rock, OR 2020)
  • 1500 m: 3:31.08 (Birmingham 2022)
  • Mile: 3:46.73 (London, 2026)
  • 3000 m: 8:00.93i (Cardiff 2018)
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Great Britain
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Munich 1500m
European U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Grosseto 1500 m
European U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Tbilisi 1500 m

Jake David T. Heyward (born 26 April 1999) is a Welsh middle-distance runner. He was a silver medalist at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in the 1500 metres, competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and represented Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Biography

Heyward was a European champion at under-18 and under-20 level while he was a member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club. Having graduated from Cardiff University, he turned professional in 2020 with the Oregon Track Club.12

Heyward went into the British Athletics Championship and Olympic trials in Manchester in 2021 with a 3:33.99 personal best for the 1,500 metres race, which was below the minimum Olympic standard, although he had broken Neil Horsfield's 31 year old Welsh record set in Brussels in 1990.1 On 26 June 2021 Heyward finished third in the 1,500m at the 2021 British Athletics Championships, to secure a place on the British team for the delayed 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan.3 In Tokyo, despite being hampered by an Achilles injury Heyward came through the heats and semi-finals and placed ninth in the final of the 1500m.4 He finished his 2021 season with a 3:52.15 mile run personal best, and Welsh record, in the 2021 Diamond League event, the Prefontaine Classic on August 21.2

In June 2022, he finished fourth in the 1500 metres at the 2022 British Athletics Championships.5 He came fifth representing Wales in the 1500m race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, running a new personal best time of 3:31.08. He won the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, finishing behind Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen.6 Heyward finished as runner-up in the Fifth Avenue Mile behind three-time winner Jake Wightman in September 2022.7

Heyward had time away from competetive running due to two surgeries on his achilles.89 Almost four years after his last competitive race, Heyward returned to the track at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto on 1 May 2026, winning over 1500 metres in a time of 3:37.75.10 The following week, he ran 3:34.18 in finishing runner-up to Marco Langon at the Franson Last Chance in Azusa, California.11 On 7 June, he ran 3:35.53 at the Diamond League event in Stockholm.12 That month, he placed second in the final of the 1500 metres at the 2026 British Championships behind Arlo Ludewick.1314 Competing at the 2026 London Athletics Meet on 18 July, Heyward ran a personal best for the mile of 3:46.73 in the same race as Josh Kerr set a new world record.15

Heyward was selected as part of the Welsh team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.16

References

References

  1. "Middle-Distance Ace Jake Heyward Obliterates 31-Year-Old Welsh 1500m Record In Olympic Qualifying Time". Dai Sport. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  2. "How They Train: Jake Heyward". Athletics Weekly. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  3. "British Athletics Results". results.britishathletics.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. "'Maybe I bluffed the Olympics' - Jake Heyward predicts more in 2022". BBC Sport. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  5. "Müller UK Athletics Championships". World Athletics. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  6. "HEYWARD RUES MISSED OPPORTUNITY AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS". Eurosport. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  7. "Laura Muir and Jake Wightman win 5th Avenue Mile in New York". BBC Sport. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  8. Crumley, Euan. "JAKE HEYWARD: "I FEEL LIKE AN ATHLETE AGAIN"". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  9. "Novuna UK Athletics Championships Birmingham - Round-Up". Welsh Athletics. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  10. "Weekend Round-Up (2 - 3 May)". Welsh Athletics. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  11. "Franson Last Chance". World Athletics. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  12. "Results - Stockholm Diamond League (BAUHAUS-Galan) 2026". Watch Athletics. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  13. "Novuna UK Athletics Championships". World Athletics. 20 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  14. "HUNTER BELL BREAKS CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD AS WIGHTMAN EDGES PATTISON". Athletics Weekly. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  15. Henderson, Jason (18 July 2026). "Kerr Headlines Novuna London Athletics Meet as Mile World Record Shattered". Diamondleague.com. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  16. "Team Wales named for Glasgow Commonwealth Games". BBC Sport. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
External links