Athletics: Willis wins in first European outing

Nick Willis. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand middle distance runner Nick Willis has won his first race in Europe this season taking out this morning's (NZt) 1500m race at the 60th Cork City International Athletics meet in Ireland.

New Zealand also came away with a silver medal from the meeting through Liz Lamb in the women's high jump.

Willis who is tuning up for an assault on a world championships 'A' qualifying time of three minutes 35 seconds at next Saturday's Diamond League event in Paris, clocked 3min 40.0 to cross the line first in Cork.

Second and third were Americans Will Lear (3min 41.0sec) and Ben Blankenship (3min 41.5sec).

Lamb, who cleared 1.80m, won the silver on countback from American Chelsea Taylor with fellow American Rebecca Christensen taking gold by clearing 1.85m.

Young long distance runner Aaron Pulford was fifth in the 3000m in a time of 8min 08.46sec, a personal best.

Australian David McNeill won the event in a time of 7min 58.55sec ahead of Americans Jordan MacNamara (8min 01.68sec) and Craig Miller (8min 02.62sec).

In the women's 1500m, New Zealand's Hannah Newbould was also fifth in a personal best time of 4min 13.93sec behind winner Hannah England of Britain who clocked 4min 10.70sec.

- NZPA