New Zealand's Olympic 1500 metres silver medallist Nick Willis has won the mile race at the renowned Drake Relays meeting in Des Moines, Iowa this morning (NZ time).
He won in a time of 3 minutes 55.70 seconds, over 3 seconds clear of second placed American Miles Baty, who finished second in the recent Queen St Mile in Auckland. South African Peter van der Westhuizen placed third.
The time ranks as the twelfth fastest of Willis' twenty four sub four minute miles. Willis is now unbeaten in seven starts in 2013. As he heads towards his major running goal for 2013, the Moscow World Champs in August.
Willis' next race will be in Shanghai at the IAAF Diamond League meeting on 18 May. He will run in the 1500 metres in a field that will feature young Kiwi Zane Robertson, who had a breakthrough year in 2012, moving up the rankings to eighth and ninth in the New Zealand all-time lists for the 1500 metres and mile respectively.
