Willis, back on track after injury, will compete in Boston

Boston, USAFollowing in its tradition of delivering track fans world-class endurance races at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Nick Willis will be another star draw on 6 February 2010 at the 15th edition of the meeting.

Also join the previously announced double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba from Ethiopia on the meet's entry list are number one ranked American 800m runner Anna Pierce (née Willard) and former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp.

Willis, who in 2008, became New Zealand’s first male track athlete in 32 years to bring home an Olympic medal, returns to the track for his first international competition since suffering a season ending injury last March.  The 2006 Commonwealth Games champion and national record-holder at 1500 metres, Willis also broke the New Zealand indoor mark and NCAA record for 3000 meters here in 2004 while competing for the University of Michigan.  He won the 2009 Reebok Boston Indoor Games Mile in 3:53.54 and is travelling to Boston from his winter training base outside of Wellington, New Zealand.

Anna Pierce, the winner of three Golden League events as well as at the World Athletics Final in 2009, one of the best seasons ever by an American middle distance or distance runner, will compete in the women’s 1000m.  In addition to her success over 800m, Anna also established herself as the third fastest American in history at 1500m, with her time of 3:59.38.

Galen Rupp led the University of Oregon men to the their first indoor national team title and became the first person in NCAA history to win the 5000m, 3,000m and the Distance Medley Relay in the same championship. During last year’s indoor campaign he also set the American Record at 5000m (13:18.12) and finished his NCAA career with an impressive six NCAA Titles.   Rupp will line up at 5000m at this year’s Reebok Boston Indoor Games.

Organisers for the IAAF