Monday 21 June 2004.

Nick Willis today ran one of the fastest mile races by a New Zealander with the exception of John Walker when clocking 3mins 53.51 secs, yet has still been unable to secure the elusive "A" qualifying target to guarantee Athens selection. In the Bowerman Mile in Eugene at the Prefontaine Classic meet, Willis finished in second place to USA's leading young star Alan Webb clocking an excellent 3.min 50.85 sec for the mile.

On route the meet organizers took 1500 m splits for the athletes and at that point Willis was through in 3:38.20. In speaking to Willis after the race he felt two key things contributed to him having mixed emotions when running a personal best yet falling short of his number one goal. He said "the hot day with temperatures nearing thirty was a factor." More important though was the fact that he didn't appreciate the split time showing on the infield clock was a stop clock time for the leader rather than a rolling time as he glanced at it on the halfway mark during the race. This made him believe he was well on target at halfway rather than thinking he needed to increase his effort. "I realized too late in the race that I was down on the schedule set to make the time" said Willis.

He will now assess the meetings he will tackle in Europe over the next month to guarantee his name on the selection paper by 21 July.

Meanwhile in the same meeting Michael Aish ran 13mins 32.56 to place 8th in a quality 5000 metre field just four and half seconds behind the winner...of Kenya. The hot dry conditions were a factor in the slower than normal time for these athletes racing mid afternoon rather than the evening like many meets in Europe accommodate.

Brief results

Men 1 Mile Run Bowerman
1, Alan Webb, USA, 3:50.85. 2, Nick Willis, New Zealand, 3:53.51. 3, Elkanah Angwenyi, Kenya, 3:54.52 [Men 1500 Meter Run en route Bowerman Mile] 1,
Alan Webb, USA, 3:34.42. 2, Nick Willis, New Zealand, 3:38.20. 3, Elkanah Angwenyi, Kenya, 3:38.66

Men 5000 Meter Run
1, Joseph Koskei, Kenya, 13:26.78. 2, Martin Keino, Kenya, 13:28.69. 3, Luke Kipkosgei, Kenya, 13:30.52. 8, Michael Aish, New Zealand, 13:32.85


Athletics New Zealand