Athletics: Teen aims at 4-minute mark

A year ago Lower Hutt teenager Nick Willis was the toast of the athletic scene after running within a whisker of four minutes for the mile.

Tomorrow night he returns to the scene of that achievement, Cooks Gardens in Wanganui, with every chance of becoming the first New Zealand junior to break the four-minute barrier.

The 18-year-old hopes to go one better and make it the first time brothers have run under four minutes for the mile in the same race.

His 26-year-old brother, Steve, is also lining up in the race.

Nick Willis has had a solid build-up. Two weeks ago in Palmerston North he broke the New Zealand junior 1000m record with a time of 2m 24.45s and last Saturday in Dunedin he finished second to his brother over 800m in 1m 52.26s.

"I would like to think I've got a chance of breaking four minutes," he said. "My training has been up and down, but no injuries.

"I'm in a hard training phase at the moment as I am wanting to peak at the end of February and into early March."

Tasha Williams of Christchurch will get her chance to square off against world championship bronze medallist Bronwyn Eagles of Australia in the hammer throw.

Eagles decided not to compete in Dunedin last Saturday but to stay in Sydney, where she threw 68.11m, only 76cm short of her bronze medal effort in Edmonton last August.

The women's high jump will feature the exciting prospect from Eltham, 14-year-old Jade Fabish, who has already cleared 1.74m this season. In the men's high jump, Glenn Howard should qualify for the Manchester Commonwealth Games with 2.24m.

Two from Auckland who have already qualified for the Games, Valerie Adams in the shot put and Beatrice Faumuina in the discus, will be competing.

David Geddes of Australia should liven up the 400m and Gus Nketia will step up for his first big 100m race this season.

Past Olympic representative Chantal Brunner will be seeking further improvement in the long jump.

In the same event, Sarah Cowley should qualify for selection to the world junior championships.