Nick Willis to study at the University of Michigan.

  24 June 2002
  by Simon England.

Hutt Valley athlete Nick Willis has decided to pursue a career as a full-time athlete through a scholarship to the University of Michigan in the United States. The four-year scholarship will see the 19-year-old develop the next phase of his career through the US Collegiate system. "It's just something that had to be done," is Willis's matter-of-fact summation of his move to the United States. "It feels the right thing to do and is another step up in my career. "I have been in contact with the college for over a year now and feel very positive about what they have to offer. I know there is a lot of concern about the US system but Michigan is a good school with a strong team, there are about 20 on their cross country team with a couple of top juniors. "I feel like this is a positive move for me." Willis is regarded as one of New Zealand's most promising young athletes and heads to the US with the blessing of Athletics New Zealand. He follows in the footsteps of his brother Steve, who returned from a stint with Western State University in Colorado last year. However, before Nick Willis begins his studies in Michigan, he has the small matter of representing New Zealand at the world junior championships to contend with. The championships are held in Kingston, Jamaica for 10 days from July 11. Last domestic track season was not his best, though Willis was concentrating mainly on strength conditioning and what racing he did have was interrupted by Nick leds U20 2002 Dorne Cup. niggly injuries.He finally managed to meet the qualifying standards for Kingston in February, during meetings in Australia. He ran a 1min 49.44sec 800m in Campbelltown on February 10 followed by a 3:45.78 1500m in Newcastle a fortnight later. Willis has yet to make up his mind but is leaning towards running only the longer distance in Jamaica. He explains: "For a meet like world juniors I would probably have a better chance in the 1500 than the 800. I wouldn't be able to do both, the programme makes that impossible. In championship races it's more about tactics than speed, it usually comes down to who is fastest at the end. "I don't believe either of my PBs (personal bests) are an indication of where I'm at. I am a lot fitter and faster than when I did those times. I did a 600m time trial in 1:19 a week ago, that was in my first week of speed training. That would translate into about a 1:46 800, so my speed is good. "My aim is to make the final, then see what happens from there." Longer term, Willis hopes to use his time in the US to qualify for the next Commonwealth Games in 2006.