Nick Willis
| Commonwealth Games Medal Record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Athletics | ||
| Gold | 2006 Melbourne | Men's 1500 metres |
Nicholas Ian Willis is a New Zealand Athlete, in the 1500 metres, who was a gold medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He was the first athlete from New Zealand to win the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth games (although Peter Snell won gold in Perth in at the Empire Games). His gold-medal winning run was completed in a time of 3:38.49 minutes.
Willis was born on the 25 April 1983 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, but attends college at the University of Michigan in the United States. His brother, Steve Willis, is also an athlete, and they are the only brothers in the history of New Zealand to have both broken 4:00 minutes for the mile.[1]
For a New Zealand high school student over the mile, Willis became the fastest ever on January 20 2001, with a time of 4 minutes 1.33 seconds.[2]
In 2005, at the Golden League series in Paris, France, Willis broke John Walker's 32 year old record for the 1500 m. In winning the Commonwealth Gold, he has cemented himself in New Zealand's athletics history. His IAAF world ranking was 16 as of May 2007.
In May 2007, Willis became engaged to his girlfriend, Sierra Boucher. They married five months later on September 30, 2007 and currently reside in Ann Arbor, MI.
Career highlights
1st: 1500 metres (3:38.49)
New Zealand Track & Field Championships 2006
1st: 1500 metres (3:50.77)
New Zealand Track & Field Championships 2008
1st: 1500 metres (3:44.46)
Personal Bests
His personal best for 1500 metres is 3:32.17(New Zealand record), set in Paris, in 2006. For the mile his personal best is 3:50.66, set at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, in 2008. His mile time is the second fastest recorded by a New Zealander, second to former world record holder John Walker.
References
- ^ Melbourne 2006 XVIII Commonwealth Games - Athletes Biography - Nicholas Willis
- ^ Berkow, Ira (March 6, 2001). "Sports of The Times; Latest Sensation From New Zealand". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
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External links
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