Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Lear takes out Cooks Classic Mile Race

Updated at 5:23 am on 29 January 2012

New Zealand's Beijing Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis along with compatriots Hamish Carson and Malcolm Hicks, American Will Lear and British runner Lee Emmanuel celebrated Peter Snell's World record run 50 years to the day by all running under four minutes at the Cooks Classic in Whanganui.

Lear won the race in three minutes 58.49 seconds, ahead of fast finishing New Zealanders Willis in three minutes 58.81 seconds and Carson in three minutes 59.11 seconds.

Emmanuel ran 3m 59.69 in fourth and Hicks fifth in three minutes 59.87 seconds.

Carson and Hicks became the latest New Zealanders to run under four minutes.

There have now been 58 runners run under four minutes at Wanganui.

New Zealander Camille Buscomb was an impressive winner of the Women's mile in four minutes 53.93 seconds from countrywoman Margot Gibson and Caroline Mellsop.

The junior mile went to Ben Moynahan from Auckland in four minutes 20.64 seconds ahead of John Schreuder and Jack Moody.

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