Willis to chase double at Commonwealth Games

Friday, 18 December 2009

December 18 - Olympic 1500 metres medallist Nick Willis (pictured) says he wants to win the 800 and 1500 metres double at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year, which will boost organisers of the event in the Indian capital following a succession of big-name athletes claiming that they would not compete.

Willis will swap his 1500m bronze from Beijing for silver after the winner Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain returned a positive drugs test.

He has not competed this year as he gets over a hip injury but is back in New Zealand from his Michigan base for a heavy six week training schedule to begin his preparations for the Games, which have been hit by the early withdrawal of England's world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and doubts over whether triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt will take part.

Willis won the 1500m the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and while athletes tend to step up distances as they get older Willis wants to do the 800 as well to help his speed in 1500 metres.

He says the 1976 Olympic 1500 metres champion John Walker showed what could be done when, two years earlier, he finished third in the 800m at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games and second in the 1500m.

England's Steve Cram also completed the 800m-1500m double at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.