Athletics: Willis unfazed after collapsing in semifinal

Nick Willis. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Nick Willis is not concerned that he collapsed from dehydration after the semifinals of the 1500m where he just sneaked into the final as the 12th qualifier for the battle for the medals tonight.

The Olympic 1500m silver medallist was unable to talk to the waiting media as he was stretchered to the medical tent.

"My body just shut down, I was asleep for 20 minutes and the clinic did not release me until they were satisfied that my blood-sugar levels were right. I didn't need an intravenous drip," said Willis.

The difficulty he experienced in the semifinals was a result of the effort he had to put into the earlier 1500m heats.

"I felt distressed in that race with a high body temperature in the hot and humid conditions. I didn't rehydrate sufficiently but it was correctable and I did scrape through for the final," he said. The 28-year-old was sure he would bounce back.

"A similar thing happened to me at the world junior championships in Jamaica in 2002 after the heats of the 1500m, but I rebounded from that and felt a million bucks in the final."

Tonight Willis will be up against the Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop, of Kenya, and the fastest in the world this year, Kenyan Silas Kiplagat, with a time of 3m 30.47s.

"The Kenyans are rivals and like to beat each other so I don't think they will be running as a team," he said.

"There are lots of examples at these championships where one of the last to qualify for the final has got up for the silver medal, Hannah England in the 1500m and Abubaker Kaki in the 800m," said Willis.

Stuart Farquhar was looking forward to the final of the javelin throw tonight after qualifying as the third best in the preliminary rounds.

Farquhar needed just one throw of 82.10m to book his place in the final.

"It's a huge relief. But I did what I wanted to achieve to make the first round my big throw and it was big enough for the final," said Farquhar.

The 29-year-old was feeling confident.

"I came into this competition pretty confident with the season I've had, I've sort of peaked quite well.

"It's going to be a huge final."

Quentin Rew will compete this morning in the 50km road walk and Jake Robertson will run the final of the 5000m tomorrow evening.