Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Vili and Willis selected for Berlin

Valerie Vili adds the Olympic crown to her world title (Getty Images)

Valerie Vili adds the Olympic crown to her world title (Getty Images)

relnews

    • Nick Willis of New Zealand celebrates his bronze medal from the men's 1500m final
    • Nick Willis (R) narrowly beat Bernard Lagat (L) at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in a time of 3:50.5 on Sept. 21, 2008.
    • With all four throws good enough to win, Valerie Vili takes an easy victory in the shot

    Valerie Vili and Nick Willis have been selected by Athletics New Zealand to compete at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 to 23 August). They have been selected ahead of the rest of the team by virtue of their top eight placings at the Beijing Olympic Games last year.

    Vili, the Olympic Games gold medallist, will be defending her World Shot Put title won in Osaka in 2007 after coming from behind to beat Nadzeya Ostapchuk in the last round.

    Willis, bronze medallist in the 1500m at Beijing, was a finalist in the 1500m in Osaka finishing tenth in 3:36.13.

     Murray McKinnon (Athletics New Zealand) for the IAAF