Athletics: Willis withdraws from mile field

Olympics 1500m running bronze medallist Nick Willis has pulled out of next Friday's mile race in Christchurch with a hip injury.

Willis said the injury would also prevent him from running in next Tuesday's Petone street mile in Lower Hutt.

Willis was targeting John Walker's longstanding New Zealand allcomers mile record at the Christchurch.

"This has been extremely heartbreaking for me as I have been wanting desperately to race some world-class races in New Zealand since the Olympic Games," Willis said in a statement.

However, he will attend both meets to help promote the events.

- NZPA