Athletics: Willis runs sixth in New York

Nick Willis. Photo / Mark McKeown

New Zealand middle distance runner Nick Willis rounded at his Commonwealth Games preparations with a sixth-placed finish at the Fifth Avenue Mile race in New York today (NZT).

Willis, 27, who has been back racing for a month after a hip injury, which followed knee surgery in March, clocked 3 minutes 54.81 seconds for the 1600m race down Manhattan's famous Fifth Avenue, which he won in 2008.

Compatriot Adrian Blincoe, 30, was 10th in 3min 56.07sec.

Moroccan Amine Laalou won the race in 3min 52.82sec, with two-time Olympic medallist American Bernard Lagat second and 2009 champion Andy Baddeley, of Britain, third in a strong field.

Willis will be defending his Commonwealth title in the 1500m in New Delhi next month, having won gold in Melbourne four years ago.

- NZPA