Bronze for Willis in 1500m

From left: Medal winners Taoufik Makhloufi, Matthew Centrowitz  and Nick Willis. Photo: Reuters
From left: Medal winners Taoufik Makhloufi, Matthew Centrowitz and Nick Willis. Photo: Reuters

New Zealand's Nick Willis made a thrilling late run to clinch bronze in the 1500m in Rio in a shock race that saw favourite Asbel Kiprop shut out.

American Matthew Centrowitz claimed victory, stunning the former champion from Kenya on Saturday nignt (local time), with Taoufik Makhloufi, of Algeria, taking silver.

Kiprop, who has won the past three world championship titles, had been in dominant form throughout the season and was widely expected to add to his Beijing Games gold, but it was Centrowitz who pulled off a surprise win in a time of 3min50:00sec, some 24 seconds behind the world record.

He became the first American to win the Olympic 1500m gold since 1908.

Defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi, of Algeria, had to settle for second in  3min50.11sec, while Willis took the bronze in a time of 3min50.24sec.

It is the Kiwi's middle distance runner's second Olympic 1500m medal. He won a silver at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Willis has won New Zealand's 18th medal at the Rio Games, enhancing what was already a record performance by the country for medal success.

The 33-year-old had to work hard to stay alive in the race, being one of the victims of some unforgiving running which had Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi, the fastest qualifier into the final and world No 1 rated athlete, tumble to the track.

For Willis, it completes a fine meet. His semifinal run suggested not only was he running well, but he was racing strongly, an important distinction.

"I proved to myself I still had it in me. You're never quite sure, especially when you start getting greys in your hair," Willis quipped.

"I stayed away from social media for a month. I wanted to get away from any distractions. It wasn't the goal but it's still very nice to get up on the podium."

- Reuters and NZ Herald

 

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