Willis on track for worlds

Nick Willis, flanked by second placed Malcolm Hicks (left) and Matt Harris (right), clocked yet another sub four-minute mile at the Cooks Classic on Monday night. Photo/Supplied

Nick Willis issued a stern warning to his international rivals when he chalked up yet another sub four-minute mile at the Cooks Classic in Wanganui on a wet Monday night.

New Zealand's fastest miler ran an excellent 3.55.98 in the Balance Chartered Accountants Men's Mile to post his fourth sub four-minute mile at Cooks Gardens and become the 60th athlete to achieve the milestone on the legendary track.

The wet weather failed to rain on Willis' parade as he stalked the pacemaking Tannock Blair from Christchurch over the first two laps. Blair, who withdrew from the Junior Men's Mile earlier in the evening to act at the "rabbit" for Willis, set a cracking pace over the first 800m.

Willis was always poised to break the four-minute barrier after sitting right on Blair's shoulder to the half mile when the front runner pulled out. Once in front, Willis was never in doubt and stretched out to an ever-increasing lead over chaser Malcolm Hicks from Auckland. Hicks wilted late in the run home to post a heart-breaking 4.00.12. Matt Harris, from the Scottish club in Wellington, clocked 4:08.02 in finishing third.

The victory put a huge smile on Willis' face and he was quick to announce he was right on track for upcoming major assignments.

Willis next races over 800m at the final meeting of the Classic Series in Wellington this weekend before stepping back to a mile in Nelson on February 8.

"Then I'm off for a 2000m race in New York City before the Worlds in Poland on March 8," Willis said immediately after Monday night's effort.

Even to the untrained eye, Willis' race in Wanganui appeared effortless.

"I felt great and right where I want to be at this stage of the season. It's been a great seven weeks training here - I can't wait," Willis said.

Meanwhile, with the scratching of former Wanganui athlete Holly van Dalen, the Classic Hits Women and Junior Women's Mile field was reduced to mainly the younger brigade.

The race, however, lost none of its excitement with Canterbury University runner Angie Smit posting a solid win over her brave teammate Rosa Flanagan. Smit ran the trip in 4:43.66, while Flanagan posted 4:46.37.

Flanagan continues to perform at a top level and mainly against far bigger opponents. She may be small, but her heart is huge and she only succumbed to a stronger Smit over the last few hundred metres. Former Wanganui athlete Caroline Mellsop, now running out of the Scottish club in Wellington, battled well into third spot.

The Young Olympians Harvey World Travel and Wanganui Collegiate Junior Men's Mile was taken out convincingly by Jordan Rackham from Invercargill in 420.79 with Jeff Lautenslager from Nelson holding second with a time of 4.21.93 from teammate Mike Lowe, third in 4.23.57.