Mile Win for Willis

Lower Hutt-born middle distance runner Nick Willis, 27, currently based in Michigan, has won the mile run at the 15th Boston Indoor Games. Willis crossed the finish line in a world leading time of 3:55.26, with American Leer just two strides back in 3:55.66. “I had no idea how I’d do; this was totally surprising to me,” said Willis, the silver medalist in the 1500m run at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. “I felt great with two laps to go, but when I crossed the line I was exhausted. I was really glad when Leer took the lead (on lap seven.) I knew I could come back on him, and it gave me a slingshot to work off,” he said. Over the weekend Willis placed 5th at the Aviva indoor grand prix athletics meeting in Birmingham — but in the process broke John Walker’s 31-year-old 1500m New Zealand indoor record by almost two seconds in three minutes 35.80 seconds