Willis hoping for happy return

Sep 19 2009 The Journal

VETERAN Olympian Benita Willis is confident she can match the African challenge when she returns for her fourth Great North Run tomorrow.

The 30-year-old Australian (pictured right) has victory in her sights but will have to power past a formidable group of Ethiopian and Kenyan runners.

She will face fierce competition from the Ethiopian 2006 Great North Run champion Berhane Adere and 2009 Boston Marathon winner Salina Kosgei, who should lead the African pack.

“The African runners are just phenomenal athletes,” said Willis. “They are fantastic and passionate people, great fun to be around – but they are seriously competitive too so when you get into a race situation it’s always tough.

“I’m pushing hard now and while I’m still getting back into it I feel like I’ll be running at my best very soon, and when I am doing that I know I can compete with them and can beat them.” The Canberra University graduate and 2004 winner spent last year recovering from a series of crippling injuries and training for the run that occupies a special place in her heart. Willis will hope she has can pull a rabbit out of the hat for a half-marathon she thinks is one of the most punishing in the season.

Hoping to battle past her African adversaries, Willis hopes to have the bumper partisan crowd on her side this time – not just the perception of staunch support.

“In 2004 it was a fantastic feeling, and the crowd was great,” she said. “But there was one part as I was getting close to the finish where I thought the crowd were chanting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!’ but they were apparently chanting something in Spanish for one of the European runners. The locals get right behind all the runners but especially the European competitors.”