Athletics: Nicked the one that counted

Nick Willis crosses the line to take gold in the 1500m final. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Nick Willis joined the pantheon of New Zealand middle distance greats when he smashed the field to win gold at the MCG last night.

The Wellington 22-year-old joined Jack Lovelock and Peter Snell as winners of the Commonwealth Games blue riband event when he crossed the line first. In the space of 3m 38.49s he brought pride back to the black singlet that so regularly dominated tracks around the world during the 60s and 70s. In winning Commonwealth gold he did something one of his childhood heroes, John Walker, never managed.

"It's been a pretty trying time for me the last couple of weeks," Willis said. "There's been highs and lows in my stress levels and anxiety. There was huge relief coming down that home straight, looking up at the big screen and thinking 'Wow, I've still got seven metres, when are these guys coming?' I left a little bit back to respond to any challenges but fortunately I was able to save it all for the last few seconds and raise my arms for myself, my country and for all the people who have supported me over the years. It's awesome."

Willis made his strike with one lap to go and deep down this highly analytical athlete knew he had it, though the realisation didn't strike until halfway down the back straight.

"It wasn't until about 50 metres to go," he said. "At the bell when I went, which is quite a common move for me in the past, if I'm able to gap the field without too much effort I really know I can relax. I looked up on the big screen and saw I had that seven metre advantage.

"The beauty of going at the 400m mark is the person you pass is not normally the one who can respond, so for others to get you they have to past on the bend which means going a further distance so you've got an automatic five-metre lead there.

"When I got the gap I had about a 75 per cent assurance I was going to be able to control the race and come home with the win."

He was helped when pre-race bookies' favourite Craig Mottram fell with 700m to go. Willis knew straight away it had knocked the field for six but stayed calm and executed his plan to perfection. "I was really tempted to make my move there and take the race. [Nick] McCormack the British runner didn't know what to do. He was waiting for Mottram to pass and he'd go with him. I knew it was their plan all along."

Willis dictated the race from the start, taking the spot he knew Mottram wanted, one back and far enough out not to get boxed in. In his heat he got caught up and nearly tripped out of the meet. He wasn't going to let that happen again.

Once Mottram went down, Willis suspected his only threat would be Australian Mark Fountain.

Fountain finished third while Willis' Canadian training partner Nathan Brannen took silver. "My coach took one-two in an event he hadn't heard of 10 years ago,' Willis said.

When Willis crossed the line, arms outstretched, it looked like a rewind to Montreal and Walker crossing for Olympic gold. In two years that could be reality.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY