Willis takes 1500m gold in Melbourne

MELBOURNE - Nick Willis claimed the first Commonwealth Games 1500m title in New Zealand history tonight winning a glorious gold at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tonight.  

Willis powered away to win a dramatic race with ease, raising his arms and looking to the heavens in the manner of 1976 Olympic champion John Walker.  

Moments later Willis was on one knee, praying, before embarking on a popular victory lap, where he was greeted with exuberance by the New Zealanders in a stadium packed with 80,000 people.  

The race was marred by fall at the midway point which took Australian favourite Craig Mottram out of contention. 

Mottram and leading Canadian Kevin Sullivan tripped over each other at the 800m mark, taking two of Willis' major rivals out in one hit. Mottram tried to rejoin the race from 30m behind the leaders but had little hope.  

Willis made the most of it, accelerating clear as he received the bell with 400m remaining.  

He was instantly 5m clear and held that advantage for the rest of a memorable final lap.  

As the rest of field tried in vain to reel him in, Willis was nonchalantly watching himself on the stadium's big screen, comfortable gold was his.  

Willis' winning time was a moderate three minutes 38.49 seconds, followed by Canadian Nathan Brannen in 3min 39.20sec and Australian Mark Fountain in 3min 39.33sec.  

New Zealand's Paul Hamblyn was unlucky to miss bronze, dipping on the line just 0.05sec behind Fountain. Compatriot Adrian Blincoe was 10th.  

Willis, 22, from Lower Hutt, doubted his chances of winning tonight, complaining of a sore throat that had disrupted his training.  

The University of Michigan runner created history with tonight's win as no New Zealander has won over the distance at the Games, despite the country's proud middle distance heritage.  

Peter Snell won the mile at the 1962 Empire Games in Perth before the metric distance was introduced. 

Walker was beaten into silver by Tanzanian Filbert Bayi in a famous race at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games. Walker again won silver in the event in 1982 in Brisbane.  

Peter O'Donoghue won a 1500m bronze at the Auckland Games in 1990.  

New Zealand results:
Men's 1500m final: Nick Willis 3:38.49 1, Paul Hamblyn 3:39.38 4, Adrian Blincoe 3:44.88 10. 

- NZPA