Athletics: Aussie duo relegate Willis from silver to bronze

SYDNEY: Nick Willis got an insight into how tricky defence of the Commonwealth Games 1500m title could be when two Australians limited him to bronze at the Melbourne Track Classic.

Relatively unheralded local Jeff Riseley headed a high-quality field featuring Willis and reigning Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop.

Riseley overpowered Willis down the home straight to clock three minutes 42.70 seconds. Jeremy Roff (3:43.06) from New South Wales also held off Willis (3:43.33) in a tight finish while Kiprop never recovered from an early check and crossed fourth.

Although the times were far from stellar for the distance, Risely and Roff sounded a warning to Willis, the Olympic silver medallist in Beijing. Willis' return to Melbourne for the first time since he reigned supreme at the MCG in 2006 follows success indoors in the United States and England.

Meanwhile, Olympic, world and Commonwealth shot put champion Valerie Vili predictably won with ease in a repeat of her domination of the Sydney Track Classic last week.

Vili continued her preparations for the world indoor championships in Doha, Qatar, next week with a winning heft of 20.05m; her closest challenger, Joanne Mirtschin, recorded 15.64m

Javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar improved significantly from his performance in Sydney to close the gap on former world champion Terko Pitkamaki.

Farquahar was a distant third last week with a throw almost 5m short of the Finn. He narrowed the gap to 6cm last night with a best of 83.26m, Pitkamaki's best was 83.32m.

- NZPA