Willis third in Monaco

Photosport

SOLID FORM: New Zealand middle-distance runner Nick Willis has finished third in his final warm-up race before the Beijing Olympics.

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New Zealand Nick Willis has finished third in a classy 1500m field at the Herculis grand prix meeting in Monaco.

It was the last race over the distance for Commonwealth Games champion Willis before he contests the 1500m at the Beijing Olympics next month.

He was slower than he hoped in clocking three minute 33.51 seconds, more than 2sec behind Kenyan winner Daniel Kipchirchir, who pipped compatriot Shedrack Kibet Korir.

Willis had stated a desire to better his personal best of 3min 32.17sec on the fast Monaco track and possibly go under 3min 31sec.

"Being two weeks out from the games, the Monte Carlo 1500m is a very important piece to each of our final preparations," Willis wrote on his webstie before the race.

"Winning here, and posting a fast time, will help win many psychological battles in Beijing."

Willis is in promising form after setting a personal best of 3min 50.66sec over the mile at last month's Prefontaine Classic meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

He will also contest the 800m at Beijing in a bid to work on his finishing speed over 1500m, a race which usually turns into a tactical battle over the early laps followed by a frantic sprint for the line.

Willis plans to contest his final Beijing tune-up race over two laps at the Karelia games in Lappeenranta in Finland on August 3, before flying into Hong Kong to join the New Zealand team on August 5.

-NZPA