Posted: December 1, 2005

Athletics: Mottram To Headline Inaugural Wanganui Mile In February

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Craig Mottram, the bronze medallist in the 5000 meters at this year's World Championships, will headline the inaugural Wanganui Mayoral Mile in Wanganui, New Zealand, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

In a race gathering the region's premiere middle distance runners, the 25-year-old Australian is slated to compete against Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe, New Zealand's top milers. A first place prize of NZD $10,000 (USD $7050) has been donated by the city's Mayor, Michael Laws.

In his standout 2005 season, Mottram eclipsed New Zealander John Walker's 23-year-old Oceania record in the mile, clocking 3:48.98 at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway in July, two weeks before his third place performance in the 5000 meters at the World Championships. The Oceania record holder at 2 miles (8:11.27), 3000 (7:37.30) and 5000 meters (12:55.76), Mottram capped his season with a win at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City in September, clocking 3:49.9.

Willis, an NCAA standout while at the University of Michigan, is the second fastest-ever New Zealander in the mile, trailing only Walker. This year, the 22-year-old Willis clocked 3:53.43 in the Oslo race, and broke Walker's national record in the 1500 meters at the Gaz de France meeting in Paris with a 3:32.38 performance.

Blincoe, an NCAA star for Villanova, has a mile best of 3:54.40. The field will also include New Zealanders Paul Hamblyn, Ben Ruthe and Rees Buck; Australians Mark Fountain and Mark Tucker; and Briton Tom Mayo, who is currently based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Organizers are also hoping to attract a top regional women's field as well.

The race, part of a day-long schedule featuring mass participation and celebrity races, will take place in the eastern New Zealand city's Cooks Gardens, where Peter Snell set a world record of 3:54.4 in the mile in 1962.