Athletics: Willis and Blincoe miss out on 1500m final

Wellington runner Nick Willis learned another harsh lesson in international athletics in the 1500m semifinals at the world athletics championships in Finland today.

Willis, 22, finished sixth in the first heat in Helsinki a time of three minutes 40.73 seconds, just .3sec behind winner Adil Kaouch, of Morocco, and four other placegetters, all of whom qualified for the final on Thursday (NZ time).

Teammate Adrian Blincoe contested the second, much faster, heat and finished ninth in 3min 38.20sec to also miss out on the final. That heat was won by Rashid Ramzi, of Bahrain, in 3min 34.69sec.

Willis, who last month broke John Walker's 30-year-old national record when he clocked 3min 32.38sec in Paris, was bitterly disappointed at missing out, Athletics New Zealand performance director Eric Hollingsworth said.

"He was in the first heat, which if the race is run slow, can be a real disadvantage," Hollingsworth said.

"He's just been shaded out -- there were six across the line in a blanket finish, with .3sec separating the five. Unfortunately, Nick was sixth.

"In the second heat, they did the smart thing and ran hard and seven went through. It was a little bit unfortunate, but that's championship racing."

In last year's Athens Olympic semifinals, Willis found his finishing kick deserted him in the home straight, and he missed out on the final by one place and 0.19sec.

Hollingsworth said the United States-based Blincoe, who qualified for the world championships with a personal best of 3min 35.65sec barely a fortnight ago, had done everything possible in the second heat to secure a finals berth.

"He went with the pace, he aimed for that top seven but the pace was a bit hot.

"He probably needs another year's development before he can handle that kind of championship racing."

Hollingsworth said both runners were disappointed in missing out on a world championship final.

"But if they learn from it, it's a positive experience. That's the key. They must now understand what high performance is, and the detail and accuracy you have to deliver at major championships."

- NZPA