Olympic bronze 1500m runner Nick Willis announced yesterday that he will be unable to join the mile field in next Friday's International Track Meet due to a hip injury.
Willis, who had stated his intention to target John Walker's longstanding NZ all comers record at the meet, will still be in Christchurch for the track meet and will be undertaking all of his intended promotional appearances.
"This has been extremely heartbreaking for me as I have been wanting desperately to race some world-class races in New Zealand since the Olympic Games," said Willis yesterday. "The event organisers in Christchurch have done such a fantastic job at putting up high quality fields that the meet will be successful with me watching from the sidelines. I'm excited I can still be involved talking to the kids and signing autographs before and after the race."
With Willis's withdrawal from the mile, 2008 world's fastest miler Andrew Baddeley will start the race as favourite as he and Beijing Olympian training partner Jeff Riseley attempt Walkers record. The pair will face strong competition from the four other sub-four minute milers in the field, including 3:53s milers Lachlan Chisholm and double US indoor 1500m champion Rob Myers, Australian Beijing Olympian Collis Birmingham and the fastest New Zealander in the race Gareth Hyett.
Willis has also withdrawn from his only other NZ race, the Milestone Street Mile in Petone, but will also attend that event for promotional purposes.
