Athletics: Top British athlete signed for mayoral mile

English sub-four minute miler Mo Farah is the latest addition to a quality field to contest the Mayoral mile in Wanganui on February 11.

The 22-year-old from Somalia, now living in London, shot to prominence in August by winning the British Milers' Club mile, at Crystal Palace. He ran a personal best time of three minutes 56.49 seconds.

Farah has an earlier background in cross country racing and was the 2001 European junior 5000m champion. He has a best 5000m time of 13min 30.53sec.

The field now has six sub four minute milers, who will be chasing a winning purse of $10,000.

Nick Willis, Adrian Blincoe and Paul Hamblyn lead the New Zealand charge and outstanding middle distance runner Craig Mottram from Australia has already been confirmed.

Also lining up will be Englishman Tom Mayo, who is now a resident in Auckland.

World mountain running champion Kate McIlroy heads the women's mile field.

- NZPA