Athletics: Hamblyn eyes Europe after top time

The country's latest sub-four-minute miler Paul Hamblyn now has Europe, Melbourne - and Wanganui in his sights.

Hamblyn became the 29th New Zealander to break four minutes for the mile, with a time of 3m 58.41s at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland on Thursday.

Next month, he is off to Wanganui for the national championships to defend the 1500m title he has won for the previous two years.

After that it's overseas.

"I will be leaving in June for another European campaign."

His longer-term goal is to be at the final of the 1500m in Melbourne for next year's Commonwealth Games.

On Thursday at the annual John Walker Night of Miles, Hamblyn went neck and neck over the final 100m with Australian Mark Tucker, who just pipped him at the finishing line in 3m 58.37s.

Hamblyn, 24, was set to crack the barrier after passing the three-quarter mark in three minutes.

"I felt good with a lap to go and I am much stronger than last season, so I knew that a sub-four time was on," he said.

"My last two workouts were good, it has been a long time coming, but I knew it was there."

Former world mile record-holder and 1976 Olympic Games 1500m gold medallist John Walker was on hand to watch and said he was sure Hamblyn would run much faster.

"It was a competitive, even race and Paul still has a lot there for a faster time," Walker said.

"A sub-four-minute mile means a lot to most people."

Hamblyn becomes New Zealand's 15th fastest miler on a list headed by Walker with 3m 49.08s.

- NZPA