The New Zealand middle distance runner Nick Willis has run a personal best for 3000 metres, at the Zagreb World Challenge meet in Croatia.
Willis' time of seven minutes 40.62 seconds took over four seconds off his previous best, which was set indoors in Boston nine years ago.
While it was a personal best for Willis, he could only finish 10th in the race, won by Kenyan Caleb Ndikui.
The time moves Willis up from fifth to second on the New Zealand all-time 3000 metres list, behind Sir John Walker.
Willis, who won the silver medal in the 1500 at the Beijing Olympics, says he found the longer distance tough as he hasn't done any specific training for a race over a mile.
He will compete in the 1500 at a meet in the Italian city of Rieti this weekend.
