Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Nick Willis continued his early season build-up with a solid win over a mile at the Tyson Invitational meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, today (NZT).
The American-based New Zealander clocked 4 minutes 02.70 seconds comfortably ahead of second-placed American Chris Lukezic's 4:03.87. Third place wentto Rob Myers (USA) in 4:05.13.
The win backs up Willis' indoor victory over a mile at the Boston Indoor Games last week when he clocked a pacier 3:53.54.
Willis kicked off the 2009 season with a second-placed 3:59.48 in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games indoor athletic meet on January 30.
He plans to contest the Melbourne athletics grand prix 1500m on March 5, before running a road mile in Petone, near Wellington, on March 10.
Three days later in Christchurch, he will attempt to break John Walker's national mile record of 3:50.6, set 28 years ago.
Willis, who has a personal best of 3:50.66 for the distance, will be pushed in his attempt by England's Andrew Baddeley, who recorded the fastest mile time in the world last year with 3:49.38.
