Middle-distance champs back for track meet

Two of last year's champions will take part in the 2010 International Track Meet at QEII Stadium in Christchurch.

Meet director Craig Motley yesterday announced 2009 winners Jeff Riseley (mile) and Ryan Gregson (3000 metres) would return, along with Ireland's David Campbell, who was third in the mile.

Rising Australian stars Jeremy Roff and James Nipperess have confirmed they will compete in the 1500m.

Motley has restructured the March 18 programme to focus on the 800m, 1500m and 5000m distances "to provide opportunities for athletes to target Commonwealth Games times".

New Zealand's Beijing Olympic Games 1500m silver medallist, Nick Willis, said the success of last year's Christchurch event had "encouraged some of the top Australians to show their interest already".

"Word has spread that it's a fast track and the promoters really take care of guest athletes," he said. "It's something we have the opportunity to grow in future years."

Willis, who had to withdraw from last year's International Mile in Christchurch after a hamstring injury, said it would be "an honour and a privilege" to be part of this year's event.

He said it was important to have high profile athletics meets because "the only way to grow the sport is to get it on television so that kids can see it and think, `I can be a sports star in New Zealand through this sport; I've got a bit of talent in running'."

- © Fairfax NZ News