[January 11, 2006] WILLIS BACK TO RACE IN THE CAPITAL Tweet (New Zealand Press Association Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Wellington, Jan 11 NZPA - Nick Willis runs his his first race in New Zealand this season among an impressive 5000m field at the Capital Classic athletics meeting here on Friday night. Included in the field at Newtown Park are fellow-Wellingtonian Rees Buck, who has run better than 13 minutes 50 seconds, and Dale Warrander, who won last year's national title in 14min 17.19sec. They will hard-pressed to match Athens Olympian Willis, who has qualified for the 5000m and 1500m for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, having run 13min 27.54sec in the longer event at California last June. Willis said he was happy with his buildup towards Melbourne. ``I don't get a chance to run in New Zealand that often and to be able to run in my own city is great,'' he said. ``I want to add this races to my training as an indication to see where I am at and set my training accordingly.'' Willis was ready for his home city's famed wind, admitting any prospect of a quick time could be spoiled. ``The weather forecast is not too good for Friday, blustery conditions. I will run with the field for the first half and see where I am at for the last mile. It will be good to also pull some of the younger runners in the field through to a good time,'' he said. Willis will race the 1500m at the national championships in Christchurch later this month and then the Wanganui Mayoral mile on February 11. Nina Rillstone, Jess Ruthe and Sarah Christie will line up in the women's 5000m on Friday in a bid to run the Games qualifying time of 15min 25sec. While the wind will be a disadvantage for the distance runners, it will be a an advantage to Beatrice Faumuina in the discus throw. Faumuina will be seeking a 60m-plus throw to set her up for national title No 13 in Christchurch. Other athletes who are close to qualifying for Melbourne include James Mortimer in the 110m hurdles, Nic O'Brien in the 400m hurdles, Stuart Farquhar in the javelin and Philip Jensen in the hammer throw. Chantal Brunner will race the 100m and follow up her excellent jumping last weekend with a further competition in the long jump. Melina Hamilton, who set a New Zealand resident pole vault record at last year's Capital Classic meeting, will also compete. Chris Donaldson, David Falealili, Carl van der Speck and Donald MacDonald will clash in the 100m while Games 1500m nominee Paul Hamblyn will open his racing this season over 800m. NZPA WGT dg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]