Athletics: Willis is back on track now after selection confusion

Nick Willis

Olympic 1500m runner Nick Willis has been added to the New Zealand world championships team after an "embarrassing" oversight by the national track and field selectors.

Athletics New Zealand general manager Jeremy Kennerley confirmed that United States-based Willis would be added to the team of 10 named last week for the August championships in Helsinki.

Kennerley said there was confusion among the selectors over whether Willis was targeting the 1500m or 800m in Helsinki, and whether he had run a sufficient qualifying time. That was resolved yesterday.

"Certainly when the team came out last week, the feeling is he should have been on that list," Kennerley told Radio Sport.

"He is going to run in Helsinki, and there should be a media release in the next couple of days which will add Nick's name to the list.

"He wants to run, he's in good form, and people around the world know how good his form is.

"I am personally a little bit embarrassed."

Willis twice ran a qualifying time for the 1500m last year, and Kennerley confirmed he would run the 1500m only in Helsinki.

Willis reached the 1500m semifinals at the Athens Olympics last year, but missed the final by two placings.

Athletics NZ's recently-resigned performance manager Tony Rogers, the athletics coach at last year's Olympics, was staggered at Willis' omission from the initial squad.

"He's run 3min 41sec outdoors this season ... I don't think form is an issue for Nick, I think communication has been.

"He's met all the criteria."

Others in contention for selection over the next two months include middle-distance runners Adrian Blincoe and Jason Stewart, and long jumper Chantal Brunner.

- NZPA