NYRR Media Center

Nick Willis won his third NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile last September, having previously won the race in 2008 and 2013. He used a late kick to separate himself from his competition, breaking the tape in 3:54.8. Last season, he also lowered his own national record over 1500 meters to 3:29.66, taking one-quarter of a second off his previous best.

Early in his career, he starred for New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, earning silver over 1500 meters. At the 2012 London Olympics, he was New Zealand’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer, and he placed ninth in the 1500 meters as the oldest runner to make the final. Willis returned to the Olympic podium in 2016 with a third place finish in the 1500 meters at the Rio Olympic Games.

His 2014 season saw him run a personal-best mile of 3:49.83, set a New Zealand record of 3000 meters of 7:36.91 and capture bronze over 1500 meters at the Commonwealth Games, adding to his 2006 gold and 2010 bronze in that event.

As a graduate of the University of Michigan, Willis continues to train under coach Ron Warhurst. He bases his training out of Ann Arbor, MI, and his hometown of Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He became the fastest New Zealand high school student over the mile when, in January 2001, he ran the distance in 4:01.33.