Willis second in Houston Marathon

16 Jan 2012, 2:07 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Australian Benita Willis (right) running the 5000metres in 2001. (AAP)

Australian Benita Willis (right) running the 5000metres in 2001. (AAP)

Australian runner Benita Willis is set to contest a fourth Olympics after finishing second in the Houston Marathon.

Australian Benita Willis has wound back the clock to finish a strong second in the Houston Marathon, a result that sets her up for a fourth straight Olympic campaign.

The 32-year-old ran a smart race to finish second in two hours 28 minutes and 24 seconds, more than three and a half minutes inside the Olympic qualifying standard.

"I didn't want to risk going for a really fast time today," said Willis, who has been training in Boulder, Colorado under the tutelage of American coach Brad Hudson.

"I just wanted to go for a really good, solid qualifier that should get me on the team, and then recover quickly from it."

Athletics Australia national distance coordinator Tim O'Shaughnessy said Willis's performance was testament to her grit and determination after several tough years.

"This is one hell of an effort. Not often do people come back from where she has been to push for nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee for London 2012," said O'Shaughnessy.

"She ran in Houston looking for a time like this and she has proven she is still more than capable.

"She should be very proud of her efforts."

Willis's career highlight came when she won the 2004 world cross-country title.

The Mackay-born runner made her Olympic debut on home soil in Sydney in 2000 in the 5000m.

She stepped up to the 10,000m in Athens four years later and again to the marathon in Beijing - the last time she represented Australia at a major international championships.

The only other Australian female marathoner to have bettered the London Olympics qualifying standard is Lisa Weightman.

Alemitu Abera from Ethiopia was a runaway winner of the women's race in Houston in a time of 2:23:14.

Countryman Tariku Jufar claimed the men's race in 2:06:51, with Australian Shawn Forrest finishing fourth in 2:14:37.

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