The Jackson Street Mile and Nick Willis
There?s something about the Wellington region that creates an invigorating loyalty in its locals. I don?t think there?s a better example of this than proud Hutt-ster and Olympian Nick Willis. As featured on our front page Willis is keen to run in an elite mile race that could be held in Petone?s Jackson Street. Okay, let?s just put this in perspective. Earlier this year Willis won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Beijing. Other kiwis might have won gold but there is an extraordinary amount of New Zealand history imbedded in the Olympic middle distances. I thought the history of the black singlet had been permanently blinked out by the swarm of talented African runners. Me and a lot of other kiwis were wrong. Then to top off his season Willis won the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York. Fifth Ave cuts through Manhattan?s famed shopping district and is one of the most expensive places to live or lease in the world. Now Willis wants to run in Jackson Street. Well I for one would love to see that happen. Like any city or town, Hutt has a network of people who care about the place they live. You could be in the network without even realising: you just actually like the city you live in, you care about its future, you can laugh at its flaws, but you don?t snicker at them. It?s an extended family of sorts and now one of the kids is coming home ? and not because he has to, but because he wants to. A mile run in Jackson Street featuring Nick Willis would be an extraordinary event but its future is not yet assured. What it needs now is the rest of the extended family ? that network of people who quietly or not so quietly love this town ? to make it happen through sponsorship and support. I urge the family to get behind the homecoming kid. Email: .
