Athletics: Willis makes winning return in US

New Zealand Olympian Nick Willis made an impressive comeback from injury winning a 3000m event at a United States indoor college meet at the weekend.

Willis, who made the 1500m semifinals at the Athens Olympics last year, returned from a stress fracture injury to win the 3000m at the Meyo Invitational indoor meeting in South Bend, Indiana.

The University of Michigan athlete recorded 7min 48.65sec to beat Stephen Haas of Indiana by 2sec.

Meanwhile, Rees Buck has become the first athlete to win the New Zealand 3000m championship for three years in a row at the weekend.

The 28-year-old from the Wellington Scottish Club had to overcome a tough challenge from Ben Ruthe, in successfully defending his title at the Sylvia Potts Memorial Grand Prix meeting in Hastings.

Phil Clode holds the most national 3000m titles, since the inception of the event in 1989, with four, but Buck is the first to win three in consecutive years.

- NZPA