KEY POINTS:
New Zealander Nick Willis has been disqualified after finishing fifth in the 1500m final at the world indoor athletics championships in Valencia, Spain.
The 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist was running strongly, and fought through on the inside to be well-placed with two laps to go before getting boxed in on the last lap.
He pushed his way back into contention on the final bend, eventually finishing fifth in 3min 39sec.
But both Willis and race winner Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia, who ran 3:38.23, were disqualified for stepping on the inside of the track. Both athletes have lodged protests.
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya was promoted to the gold medal in 3:38.54 with Spaniards Juan Carlos Higuero (3:38.82) and Arturo Casado (3:38.88) taking silver and bronze.
United States-based New Zealander Kimberley Smith clocked 8min 48.48sec to finish sixth in the women's 3000m final, won by outstanding Ethiopian Meseret Defar in 8:38.79.
With three laps remaining, Smith was one of six still in contention for the title, but Defar kicked clear for the win and a hat-trick of world indoor titles.
Defar is unbeaten indoors over the last five years and extended her number of consecutive victories to 17. Compatriot Meselech Melkamu was second in 8:41.50, with Mariem Alaoui Selsouli of Morocco third (8:41.66).
New Zealand's world shot put champion Valerie Vili took just one throw of 19.72 metres to qualify for tomorrow's final (0400 NZT Monday).
Vili added over a metre to her previous New Zealand and Oceania record of 18.22m, set when she competed at the world indoor championships in Budapest in 2004.
The next best qualifier was Christina Schwanitz of Germany with 18.97m. Vili's long-standing rival, and the world indoor leader this season on 20.35m, Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, went out to 18.46m to barely edge over the 18.45m qualifying distance.
- NZPA
