KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Nick Willis lacked the finish to challenge for a medal in the 1500m final at the world athletics championships in Japan this morning (NZT).
The 2006 Commonwealth Games champion finished 10th in a race won by Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat representing the United States.
The 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist ran wide coming off the last bend and overhauled the leaders to finish in three minutes 34.77 seconds.
Moroccan-born Rashid Ramzi, of Bahrain, the defending champion, took silver in 3min 35.00sec and Shedrack Kebit Korir, of Kenya, took bronze in 3min 35.04sec.
Willis recorded a time of 3min 36.13sec after being at the rear of the field from the start when the pace was set by American Alan Webb and Shedrack Korir, of Kenya.
The first lap came up in 58.63sec and the 800m in 1min 58.08sec.
Willis moved up to third to last going into the next lap and was running comfortably on the pole line.
Willis was well placed heading into the final 200m, but was unable to make any impression on the leading bunch.
Willis said that the pace was a bit too honest from the start and it took the sting out of his kick.
"I'm a little behind from where I would have liked to finish, I would have needed a top five to be really happy," he said.
Willis did not initially qualify for the final but was elevated into the field when one of the favourites - Frenchman Mehdi Baala - was disqualified for barging in Willis' semifinal.
- NZPA
