Nick Willis sets new 3000m record

IAAF World Challenge Meeting, 53rd Golden Spike, Ostrava – 17 June 2014

Nick Willis shaved 0.58 of a second off the New Zealand national 3000m record in finishing third in 7:36.91. Sir John Walker has held the record for the past 32 years with his time of 7:37.49 set in London in July 1982.

World 2010 junior 1500m and cross country champion and world indoors 3000m champion Caleb Ndiku of Kenya won in 7:31.66 with 16 year old Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia second in 7:36.28. Willis improved on his previous best of 7:40.62 set in Zagreb last July.

Zane Robertson was 14th in a personal best outdoor time of 7:50.89.

Willis said that the main reason for his recent successes has been staying healthy.

“I’ve been healthy finally for a good stretch of time and thankfully this year I’m having one of those good runs and I’m reaping the rewards for consistent training.”

He now returns to his base in Michigan to continue his preparations for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games starting in six weeks.

“I’ll now recoup and do some simple mileage, the old Arthur Lydiard style of 100 miles a week for two or three weeks and then I’ll have three or four weeks to gear up for Glasgow – it should be a fantastic experience,” he said.