Elite athletes scheduled to run in the now-postponed International Track Meet in Christchurch have confirmed they will take part in a fundraising event in Wellington this Saturday to raise money for the Salvation Army's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
The meet, organised by Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis together with the New Zealand Olympic Committee and members of the Wellington athletics community, will feature United States' top miler Alan Webb, Britain's Lee Emanuel, sub-4 milers Will Leer and Brandon Bethke as well as Willis himself.
The event's programme includes the men's elite mile, men's 800 metres, men's and women's 1500 metres, a schools relay and the men's and women's long jump as well as Nick Willis' Olympic silver medal presentation.
Willis says he hopes that the unique opportunity to see an Olympic silver medal being presented as well as watch elite athletes compete will draw the Wellington public to the event and encourage them to donate to the earthquake appeal.
The evening's programme begins at 5.00pm with the medal ceremony and concludes at 6.25pm with the men's elite mile.
Willis, Webb, Emanuel, Leer and Bethke will run in this final event.
Webb will also compete in the men's 800 metres.
======================================================
The only reason I said *possibly* for the mile is because Nick Willis had a facebook update where he only mentioned Webb running the 800m and he didn't mention the mile
"Saturday's Track Meet 4 Christchurch is taking place from 5pm-6.30pm at Wellington's Newtown Park. Free entry, but donations to the Salvation Army volunteers at the meet are greatly encouraged. I will be racing the mile against four internationals. American record holder, Alan Webb, will be racing the 800m against NZ's best."
Who knows if Webb is aiming for a fast time in either event or if he is just doing a workout or something